The UK's imports of thermal coal in January rose 14% on the month and 3% on the year to 3.46 million mt, according to customs data released Friday.
The month's jump in imports was driven by an 84% increase on the month in deliveries from Colombia to 1.06 million mt, a four-month high, the data showed.
However, imports of thermal coal from Colombia are expected to fall in February due to an environmental suspension of exports at producer Drummond's operations in the country since the beginning of the year.
The UK's January intake of thermal coal from Russia -- its largest supplier -- fell 1% on the month to 1.37 million mt, but was 1% higher than a year earlier.
January deliveries of US thermal coal into the UK dropped off 17% on the year and 6% on the month to 915,009 mt.
The UK also imported 520,672 mt of coking coal in January, up 28% from December.
