Khanh Hoa coal mine in the northern province of Thai Nguyen. — VNA/VNS Photo Trong Dat

Viet Nam imported 7.9 million tonnes of coal worth US$801 million in the first seven months of the year.

The imports represented a 5.1 per cent decrease in terms of quantity and a 49.2 per cent increase in term of value compared the same period last year.

Statistics from the General Department of Customs revealed that in the seven-month period, Indonesia was Viet Nam’s largest coal exporter with 2.9 million tonnes and turnover worth $192.7 million, posting an increase of 48.2 per cent and 65.2 per cent year-on-year in terms of quantity and value, respectively.

Australia came second in coal exports by Viet Nam with 2.3 million tonnes worth almost $283 million, reducing 12.4 per cent in quantity but increasing 40.2 per cent in value.

Notably, the country’s coal imports from China in the period were sharply reduced from the corresponding period last year, from 1.16 million tonnes to 614,125 tonnes. However, export turnover increased from $93.8 million at the end of last year to $110.4 million.

The department said the main reason was the continuous increase in coal import price from China in the last seven months. — VNS