In the first five months of 2020, coal exports reached 4.1 million tons, down 2.7 times from the same period last year, according to the Customs General Administration (CGA). It fell by 2.8 times to USD 344 million. Despite the recovery in coal exports, daily output remained below the performance a year earlier. Seddorj Renchinbyamba, CEO of Tavan Tolgoi JSC, said that the main port Gashuunsukhait will be able to produce coal with at least 500 trucks a day. He also highlighted that if the port opens for 24 hours a day, exports could increase since coal truck drivers are required to cross the border and return on the same day. SouthGobi Resources Ltd., one of the companies that operate in the Nariin Sukhait deposit, exported 90,000 tons of coal in one month after the port resumed operations. Moreover, the trade deficit amounted to USD 181.3 million in the first four months of the year. During the period, total imports decreased by 10.7 percent to USD 1.6 billion year over year, and exports decreased by 40.4 percent to USD 1.5 billion. Mineral exports accounted for 78.6 percent of total export alone. Imports of sugar and rice increased by 32.3 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively. During the reporting period, Mongolia imported 16.8 million masks, 40,600 new types of coronavirus diagnostics, and 5.8 million medical equipment.

Published Date:2020-05-07