Skip to main content

Energy: Coal Imports

Volume 698: debated on Wednesday 23 January 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total tonnage of coal imported into the United Kingdom during each of the years 2001 to 2007; from which countries the coal was imported; what was the estimated cost; and what was the estimated tonnage imported to South Yorkshire during those years. [HL1368]

The total tonnage of coal imported into the United Kingdom during each of the years 2001 to 2006 on a country of origin basis is summarised below. The total value of imports is also included. Data for 2007 will not be available until later this year.

Thousand tonnes

Country

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

European Union

Belgium/Luxembourg

6

2

12

11

14

2

Denmark

-

-

-

-

-

10

Estonia (1)

..

..

..

22

15

37

France

-

17

19

50

4

5

Germany

-

10

2

13

16

50

Irish Republic

72

46

57

40

38

19

Italy

-

-

14

-

-

-

Latvia (1)

..

..

..

11

92

357

Netherlands (2)

157

257

246

193

197

188

Poland (1)

..

..

..

1,208

647

883

Spain

-

9

21

24

41

46

Sweden

5

25

-

-

-

-

Total European Union

240

366

369

1,580

1,066

1,597

Australia

7,076

5,093

5,664

6,175

4,464

4,018

Canada

1,182

750

839

740

1,084

1,282

Colombia

6,722

3,547

3,398

3,630

3,289

3,798

Indonesia

50

45

402

1,458

1,616

1,895

Norway

24

164

145

138

-

-

People's Republic of China

705

288

210

233

135

55

Poland (1)

1,235

1,596

1,902

..

..

..

Republic of South Africa

10,259

9,876

12,194

10,144

13,029

12,953

Russia

3,895

4,368

5,089

9,932

17,521

22,739

United States of America

2,610

1,567

1,154

2,061

1,509

1,993

Venezuela

56

-

-

39

-

-

Vietnam

92

86

45

23

-

-

Other countries

1,396

940

480

-

255

126

Total all countries

35,542

28,686

31,891

36,153

43,968

50,456

Value of imports (cif) (£m) (3)

1,158

852

924

1,329

1,873

2,132

Source: HM Revenue and Customs as published in Table G.5 of the internet version of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2007 (www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/dukes/page39771.html)

.. Not applicable.

- Nil or negligible.

(1) Joined the EU on 1 May 2004.

(2) Includes extra-EU coal routed through the Netherlands.

(3) Value of imports are “cif” (cost, insurance and freight).

HM Revenue and Customs' Regional Trade Statistics show that imports of coal, coke and briquettes into the Yorkshire and the Humber region over the same period were as follows:

Year

Thousand tonnes

2001

70

2002

188

2003

90

2004

1,042

2005

4,065

2006

4,706