Japan's coal imports rose in June, driven by higher thermal coal purchases, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Finance released July 22.

The country imported 11.76 million tonnes of coal in June, up 10.2% year on year, with the import value reaching 304.75 billion yen ($1.87 billion), a 46.8% increase from a year earlier.

Imports from the United States totaled 851,000 tonnes, down 20% year on year, while the value rose 16% to 23.17 billion yen. Coal imports from Russia plunged 57.2% to 37,000 tonnes, with the value falling 57.9% to 782 million yen.

Thermal coal imports stood at 7.15 million tonnes, up 18.5% year on year, with the import value surging 60.4% to 165.81 billion yen.

Thermal coal imports from the United States fell 36.5% to 296,000 tonnes, with the value down 15.3% to 6.91 billion yen. Imports from Russia dropped 76.8% to 19,000 tonnes, with the value sliding 80.5% to 344 million yen.

Coal imports from Asia totaled 1.79 million tonnes, down 24.3% year on year, with the value falling 5.2% to 39.94 billion yen. Thermal coal imports from the region rose 2.7% to 1.11 million tonnes, with the value up 28.3% to 22.53 billion yen.

Imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region declined 23.5% to 1.78 million tonnes, with the value down 3.2% to 39.47 billion yen. Thermal coal imports from ASEAN rose 2.7% to 1.11 million tonnes, with the value up 28.3% to 22.53 billion yen.

Japan's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports totaled 4.72 million tonnes in June, up 6.2% year on year, with the value rising 14.7% to 434.5 billion yen.