Indonesian coal seems to be selling well. This is because the demand for coal in Europe is increasing during the winter. This condition causes Indonesia’s coal export to Europe is predicted to reach 5 million tons by the end of the year.
Europe is experiencing the threat of cold and darkness at the end of this year due to a lack of supply of raw materials, namely coal for the country’s power plants.
One of their import destinations in Indonesia. This was revealed by the Executive Director of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) Hendra Sinadia.
“Winter, the demand for coal will definitely increase. Rough calculations, until the end of December 2022, exports to Europe could reach 5 million tons, roughly. Data as of October 2022, unofficial data is 4 million tons,” he was quoted as saying Friday (25/11/2022). 2022).
According to him, the coal orders came from most European countries, not just one country. Countries such as Germany, Poland, Italy, and Spain, which previously ordered coal from Russia, are now switching to Indonesia.
Hendra said that the coal ordered by Europe had an average high-calorie content of over 5,500 kcal/kg, higher than coal for electricity generation in the country.
Based on data from the 2021 Handbook of Energy and Economic Statistics of Indonesia, Indonesia’s largest coal exports to Europe went to Spain, where in 2021 it was recorded at 77 thousand tons, zero in 2020, 1.17 million tons in 2019, 3.23 million tons in 2018, and 2017 2.44 million tonnes.
As for 2011, the highest coal exports to Spain occurred in 2012 which was recorded at 6.21 million tons, and the second largest was in 2014 5.67 million tons.
While other European export destination countries are not published and are included in “other” RI export destination countries.
As is well known, Europe requires coal as raw material for its country’s electricity needs during the energy crisis that is currently hitting the European Union countries.
Coal from Indonesia became a substitute for European imports when these countries imposed economic sanctions in the form of stopping coal from Russia which became their mainstay.
Furthermore, coal prices continue to climb amidst the many negative sentiments that overshadow the movement of black sand.
During trading on Thursday (24/11/2022), the December contract coal price on the ICE Newcastle market was recorded at US$ 356.65 per ton. The price slightly strengthened by 0.15%.
Yesterday’s increase extended the positive trend of black sand whose price has always been strengthening since last Thursday. In those six days, coal prices shot up 12.8%.