Coal’s shrinking tonnes are travelling further

AI Summary

Despite weakening demand from China, seaborne coal trade remains resilient due to shifting coal sources, sustaining dry bulk shipping demand. Research by Ursa Shipbrokers highlighted a 3.4% year-on-year rise in Chinese coal imports.

The seaborne coal trade is throwing up an increasingly important paradox for dry bulk shipping: headline demand from China is weakening, but changes in where the coal comes from are helping to keep vessel demand surprisingly resilient. Recent research from Greece’s Ursa Shipbrokers notes that total Chinese coal imports actually rose 3.4% year-on0year to 310.2m …