Get started

INFOGRAPHIC: Global coking coal imports hit by Covid-19

All the world’s major coking coal importers reduced their purchases in 2020 amid steel production cuts and lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

July 7, 2021
By Alice Li
Asia China Global India

China, Japan, South Korea, the European Union and India imported a total of 217.76 million tonnes of coking coal last year, down by 10.1% from 2019.

The largest decline in percentage terms was found in the EU. The bloc imported 30.20 million tonnes of the steelmaking raw material, down by 34.5% from 2019.

China imported 72.28 million tonnes in 2020. In percentage terms this was down by just 3%, but amounted to a year-on-year drop of 2.21 million tonnes.

The world’s second-largest importer, Japan, purchased 51.9 million tonnes of coking coal last year, down by 8% from 2019.

Click on image to enlarge

Join industry experts for an exciting forward look into Asia’s evolving steel market at the Singapore Steel Forum on July 14. Register today at https://events.fastmarkets.com/singapore-steel-forum

What to read next
Fastmarkets amends publication times for China technology and energy metal prices: pricing notice
The amendment follows the decision made on May 14, after a consultation period for the proposed changes, which took place between April 2 and May 11. The purpose of the change is to align the publication times to the activity in the relevant markets and ensure that subscribers receive timely and accurate pricing information. The affected […]
May 21, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Fastmarkets amends publication times, holiday pricing schedule for Asian base metals assessments: pricing notice
The amendment follows the decision made on May 14, after a consultation period for the proposed changes which took place between April 3 and May 11. The changes were first proposed in a pricing note published on April 3.  The purpose of the changes is to align the publication times to the activity in the […]
May 21, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Fastmarkets amends publication time of antimony trioxide 99.5% Sb2O3 min, exw China: pricing notice
The price will be published weekly on Friday 5-6pm Shanghai time, instead of 7pm Shanghai time previously. The amendment aims to better reflect the prices of technology and energy metals (TEM) in the Chinese market and ensure that subscribers receive timely and accurate pricing information. The amendment was first announced in a pricing notice published […]
May 21, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Person, Worker, Helmet
South Korea launches $54 bln industrial support package, including steel sector
South Korea has stepped up its efforts to support its steel sector, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and tariff pressures elsewhere, by including the sector in a $54 billion support package for key industries in the country, Fastmarkets understands.
May 20, 2026
 · 
By Malvick Ong
Fastmarkets changes Chinese UCO timestamps
Fastmarkets changed the timestamp for its daily used cooking oil flexi-tank, fob China and used cooking oil, bulk, fob China price assessments from 4:30pm London time to 4:30pm Singapore time effective Wednesday May 20, 2026, as a result of an open consultation.
May 20, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Proposal to amend frequency of cif Japan and Korea nickel sulfate assessments: pricing notice
The proposal follows Fastmarkets’ observations that the commodity sees inactive spot liquidity and low volatility in prices. The proposed new specifications for the prices are as follows, with the amendments in italics: MB-NI-0246 Nickel sulfate, cif Japan and Korea, $/tonneQuality: Accepted by buyer for use in battery applications with chemical composition: Ni content, base 22.3% […]
May 20, 2026
 · 
By Sybil Pan