Vietnam’s 2012 coal exports expected to drop

Vietnam plans to reduce its coal exports next year by 18.2% from this year’s projected shipments to 13.5Mt, according to Tran Xuan Hoa, chairman at top coal miner Vinacomin.

At present, the Asian country is a net coal exporter but it is envisaged to become an importer by 2015 as it brings a series of thermal power plants online. Annual exports are forecast to drop further to 8Mt in 2013 and 4-5Mt from 2015. Imports, on the other hand, would reach 5Mt by that time, said Hoa.

In June, Vietnam received 9,570t of thermal coal from Indonesia, its first such shipment from the country. Vietnam has also imported coal from Australia and has made enquiries about Russian product.