Chile resumes coal exports to India, imports rise 47% in October: Ministry

26 December 2016

Chilean coal producer Mina Invierno resumed coal exports in October after a four-month break. Energy Ministry data showed Thursday that Chile exported 165,000 mt of coal, the first since June. All of the coal went to India, a key export market for Mina Invierno.

The coal mine, located in Chile’s southernmost Magallanes Region, is a joint venture between industrial conglomerate Empresas Copec and shipping company Ultramar.

Chile’s only significant coal producer, Mina Invierno has cut production in recent years due to the drop in coal prices and is expected to produce 2.3 million mt in 2016, down from 4 million mt in 2014.

Chile imported 1.05 million mt of coal in October, up 47% from the same month of last year, the Energy Ministry data showed.

Chile’s main suppliers during the period were Colombia (455,000 mt), Australia (330,000 mt) and the US (141,000 mt).

The monthly figure also marked a rise from 935,000 mt in September.

The increase in demand reflects increased activity at Chile’s coal-fired power plants, which generated 2,463 GWh of electricity in November, up 19% from the year-ago month, to compensate for restricted hydropower supplies.

Source- Platts