Global coal export shipments up 9% w-o-w amid logistics recovery, firm demand

• Indonesia, South Africa, US lift exports on stronger logistics
  
  
• Colombian exports dip on weak Atlantic demand, thin spot support
  
  

Global seaborne coal shipments increased 9.1% w-o-w to 18.06 million tonnes (mnt) in the week ended 24 April 2026, from 16.56 mnt a week earlier, according to BigMint data. The rebound was led by stronger exports from Indonesia, South Africa, the USA, and Canada, supported by improved logistics and firmer spot demand, while Colombia acted as a drag amid softer Atlantic market conditions.

Country-wise trends

Port & shipper-wise trends

Pacific flows firm up

• Australian shipments held at 6.53 mnt, with steady loadings across key terminals despite ongoing maintenance and patchy weather. Newcastle (2.36 mnt), DBCT (1.53 mnt) and Gladstone (1.35 mnt) led exports, with Japan (1.20 mnt), South Korea (1.03 mnt) and China (0.86 mnt) as key destinations. BHP (0.84 mnt) and Glencore (0.39 mnt) supported supply.
  
  
• Indonesian shipments rose to 6.54 mnt, driven by firmer spot demand and improved cargo availability. Taboneo led with 1.44 mnt, while China (1.42 mnt) and India (0.97 mnt) remained key buyers.
  
  
• Canadian shipments increased to 0.72 mnt, aided by improved vessel line-ups and smoother inland logistics. Roberts Bank (0.72 mnt) dominated exports, with Japan (0.24 mnt) and South Korea (0.23 mnt) as primary destinations.
  
  

Atlantic flows improve

• South African shipments rebounded to 1.60 mnt, supported by improved rail movement and higher throughput at Richards Bay. India (0.54 mnt) and Pakistan (0.21 mnt) were the key destinations.
  
  
• US shipments rose to 1.80 mnt, with Norfolk (0.55 mnt), New Orleans (0.43 mnt) and Mobile (0.42 mnt) leading exports. The Netherlands (0.16 mnt), Spain (0.16 mnt) and India (0.16 mnt) were the key buyers, supported by opportunistic Atlantic demand.
  
  
• Colombian shipments moderated to 0.86 mnt, with Puerto Bolivar (0.42 mnt), Puerto Nuevo (0.16 mnt) and Barranquilla (0.16 mnt) leading loadings. Cerrejon Mines (0.42 mnt) and Carbosan (0.38 mnt) supported supply, while the Netherlands (0.17 mnt) remained the key destination amid softer Atlantic demand and limited spot support.
  
  

Coal freights to India show mixed trend

Freight rates to India showed a mixed trend w-o-w. The Supramax segment remained firm on tighter tonnage availability and steady cargo enquiries, particularly from the Pacific. In contrast, Panamax rates softened amid ample vessel supply and relatively subdued cargo activity in the Atlantic, keeping overall sentiment balanced.

Outlook

Coal shipments are expected to remain mixed in the near term. Indonesian exports may stay supported by spot demand, while Australian volumes are likely to remain stable amid ongoing maintenance and weather variability. Atlantic flows could remain uneven, with logistical improvements supporting volumes but demand-side constraints limiting upside. Freight markets are expected to continue showing divergence across vessel segments and regions.