Vietnam imported 8.57 million tonnes of coal during January-March 2023, rising 35.3% year on year, while the value of the imports amounted to $1.47 billion, up 0.9% year on year, customs data showed.

Shipments from Australia, its largest source, reached 4.93 million tonnes during the first three months, up 47.2% year on year and accounting for 57.5% of the total.

Imports from Indonesia were 2.48 million tonnes, surging 51.6% from the preceding year. Intakes from Russia stood at 576,700 tonnes, down 30.4%.

Vietnam imported 3.72 million tonnes of coal in March, 42.4% higher compared with the preceding year. Import value was $660 million, up 9.2% year on year.

Specifically, the country imported 2.10 million tonnes from Australia, jumping 66.2% on the year, and took 1.02 million tonnes from Indonesia, 5.7% rise. Shipments from Russia came in at 227,000 tonnes, 49.3% higher from a year ago.

Vietnam produced 7.08 million tonnes of coal during January-February, up 2% year on year. The accumulative production is expected to reach 11.61 million tonnes during the first three months, down 1.16% year on year.

Vinacomin, Vietnam's largest coal producer, said it produced 9.5 million tonnes of coal in the first three months, down 10% from a year earlier. Coal sales to the domestic market were 11.45 million tonnes, up 3%. It forecast its coal supply to domestic power sector to reach 10.80 million tonnes in the second quarter.