In December alone, the country’s exports of coal reached nearly 94,994 tons, earning 12.77 million USD, plummeted by 47.3 per cent in volume and down by 49.7 per cent in value compared to November of 2019 and also fell by 53 per cent both in quantity and in turnover compared to December of 2018.

The average export coal price in December of 2019 reached 134.4 USD per ton, down by 4.4 per cent compared to November of 2019 and down by 1.6 per cent compared to December of 2018. On average, in 2019, the coal price increased by 9.7 per cent compared to 2018, reaching 147.6 USD per ton.

Japan was the largest consumer market for Vietnam's exported coal. In 2019, exported to Japan 493,921 tons of coal, earning 68.02 million USD, down by 46 per cent in volume and 44.2 per cent in turnover compared to 2018; accounting for 43.2 per cent of the country's total exports of coal and accounting for 40.3 per cent of the total export turnover. Coal price exported to Japan increased by 3.3 per cent compared to 2018, reaching 137.7 USD per ton.

South Korea was the second largest coal consuming market of Vietnam, with 161,709 tons, equivalent to 27.27 million USD, and the average price of 168.8 USD per ton, down by 61.4 per cent in volume and down by 48.9 per cent in turnover but up by 32.4 per cent in price compared to 2018.

Meanwhile, the exports of coal to Thailand reached 113,687 tons, equivalent to 13.53 million USD, the average price was 119 USD per ton, down by 44.6 per cent in volume and 43.2 per cent in turnover but up by 2.5 per cent in price over the year of 2018.

In 2019, coal export to all markets decreased both in volume and turnover compared to 2018, but the export price increased in all markets. Remarkably, some markets saw very strong increase such as: the Philippines - increased by 133.6 per cent in price but decreased by over 99 per cent in both volume and turnover, reaching 184 tons, equivalent to 52,580 USD; to Laos - increased by 164 per cent in price but decreased by 99 per cent in volume and turnover, reaching 89 tons, equivalent to 31,150 USD.