Indonesia's Jan-April coal exports up nearly 2% on-year-trade ministry

Indonesia's coal exports in January-April this year rose by nearly 2 percent from the same period last year on robust demand from India, data from the trade ministry and shipping sources showed on Friday.

Indonesia shipped 98.87 million tonnes of coal in January-April this year, up 1.83 percent from 97.10 million tonnes in January-April 2010, trade ministry data show this week.

The figures were collected from surveyors report.

The trade ministry did not provide reason for the increase in exports but a shipping source said higher India demand had pushed up January-April export.

"India bought a lot to prepare for monsoon which starts around May-June," said the source in a foreign trading firm based in Singapore.

"The Indonesian coal is to replace South African coal which is more expensive," the source added.

Chinese buyers did not buy much in the January-April period because of lower local coal prices. But India and China remained top buyers, accounting for a combined 43.5 percent of January-April exports. (fitri)