Seaborne coal exports from Indonesia surged by 10.2% in 2023 compared to the previous year, marking a significant boost in the global coal trade.
Shipbroker Banchero Costa noted in a recent report that this growth has propelled coal trade back to pre-Covid levels. Global seaborne coal loadings saw a robust increase of +5.8% year-on-year, reaching 1,339.5 million tonnes in Jan-Dec 2023, as per vessel tracking data from AXS Marine.
Indonesia, as the world's largest seaborne exporter of coal, played a pivotal role, accounting for 36.9% of the global seaborne coal market in 2023. The country's exports rebounded strongly from pandemic disruptions and government policies favoring domestic consumption, hitting a record high of 494.6 million tonnes in 2023, up by +10.2% year-on-year.
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Most Indonesian coal exports originate from East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan, with key export terminals including Taboneo/Banjarmasin, Muara Berau, Tanjung Bara, Samarinda, and others. The majority of these exports (55%) were loaded on Panamax vessels, with China being the top importer, accounting for 41.5% of Indonesian shipments.
India, the Philippines, and Vietnam also saw notable increases in coal imports from Indonesia in 2023. Shipments to India rose by +0.2% year-on-year, while exports to the Philippines surged by +18.6% and those to Vietnam soared by +88.1% during the same period.
Overall, Indonesia's robust coal export performance reflects its key role in the global coal market, contributing significantly to seaborne trade growth in 2023.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
