China imported 7.11 million mt of thermal coal in April, down 18.8% on the year and 4.1% from March, according to data released Tuesday by the General Administration of Customs.
The volume included 5.72 million mt of bituminous material and 1.4 million mt of sub-bituminous coal, but excluded imports of lower CV lignite material.
During the January-April period, China imported 25.42 million mt of thermal coal, down 14.3% from the same period in 2015.
Indonesia climbed to the largest shipper of thermal coal to China in April at 3.11 million mt, 2% higher on the year and up 25% from March to the highest volume since January last year.
Australia dropped to the second biggest supplier at 2.79 million mt, falling 40% from April 2015 and down 12% from the previous month.
China's imports of Russian thermal coal slipped 3% on the year to 902,166 mt, which was also 41% lower than March's 22-month high.
Total lignite imports for April decreased 9% on the year to 4.57 million mt, which was stable from the previous month.
Of the total, 4.71 million mt was from Indonesia, down 21% on the year and also 12% lower than March.
