Indonesia's seaborne coal exports retreated from August's intra-year high in September, but remained at the second-highest level this year, showed vessel tracking data from Kpler.

The country exported 43.68 million tonnes of coal in the month, declining 4.13% from a year ago and 7.14% from a month earlier, according to Kpler.

Indonesia's coal exports to Asian countries reached 41.67 million tonnes in September, sliding 7.91% from the previous year and 10.14% from a month ago, accounting for 95.4% of total exports, lower than August's 97.3%.

Chinese mainland remained the top destination for Indonesian coal in the month with the shipment at 17.21 million tonnes, down 15% from a year earlier and 16.99% on the month, data showed.

The country's coal exports to India amounted to 8.31 million tonnes in September, rising 1.38% year on year but ticking down 0.51% month on month. Exports to the Philippines dropped 8.24% from a year ago and 8.49% from the month prior to 2.97 million tonnes.

Exports to Malaysia grew 8.31% from a year earlier and jumped 53.18% from a month ago to 2.64 million tonnes. Shipments to South Korea dropped 3.34% on the year and 27.85% on the month to 2.37 million tonnes.

Indonesia's seaborne coal exports totaled 358 million tonnes in the first nine months this year, down 7.93% on the year, with Chinese intakes diving 16.2% to 137 million tonnes.