In April 2023, Mongolia significantly increased its coal exports to China, allowing it to surpass Indonesia, which had long been a leader in this segment. According to the General Administration of Customs of China, Mongolia sent 11.33 million metric tons of coal to the neighboring country, while Indonesia exported 11.12 million tons, which is 22% less compared to the same period last year.
The decrease in shipments from Indonesia, which amounted to 8% in the first four months of the year, did not prevent it from maintaining its leadership in total exports, totaling 61.43 million tons compared to 39.37 million tons from Mongolia, which demonstrated an impressive growth in shipments of 61% compared to last year.

Analysts note that the decline in coal prices in the domestic market of China has reduced the competitiveness of Indonesian supplies. At the same time, Indonesia has presented an ambitious plan that may cause further instability in the market. The new plan for the centralization of coal and other goods exports under the management of a state-owned company, announced by President Prabowo Subianto, raises concerns among investors worried about control over pricing.

Coal imports from Russia and Australia have also noticeably decreased: in April, volumes fell by 30% and 39% respectively. This trend was part of an overall reduction in coal imports to China, which decreased by 14% year-on-year in April, totaling 33.1 million metric tons. Since the beginning of the year, the decline has been 2.1%, leading to a total import volume of 149.4 million metric tons.

Published Date:2026-05-25