In Commodity News 31/07/2015
Vietnam produced an estimated 3.184 million mt of coal in July, up 9% year on year, according to data released by the General Statistics Office.
Most of the coal was used domestically, except for 180,000 mt that was exported, up 5.3% year on year.
Output and sales fell sharply in the northern Quang Ninh province due to bad weather this week.
The key coal supply area was hit by its worst rain storms in 40 years, forcing several mines to halt production.
The storms swept away about 7,000 mt of coal in Ha Long City.
Vinacomin, the country’s biggest coal producer, estimated its loss from the storm at Dong 500 billion ($23 million).
Due to the suspension of production and destruction of coal rails in several areas, coal deliveries from the province to domestic buyers might be delayed in the coming days, Vinacomin said.
Vietnam produced an estimated 24.6 million mt of coal over January-July, up 6.1% year on year.
It imported 2.23 million mt in January-June, surging 48.1% year on year, to meet rising domestic demand, particularly from the power sector, according to customs data released earlier this month.
