Energy: Vietnam’s coal imports fall 2.94 percent in May

Vietnam’s imports of coal reached US$685.50 million in May 2025, according to figures released by Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. This represents a decrease of 2.94 percent compared to April, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) import value to US$3.21 billion.

Australia remains the leading supplier with slight growth:

Australia continued to be the primary source for coal imports, with a May value of US$266.18 million. This signifies a slight increase of 0.80 percent from April and accounts for a dominant 38.19 percent of the total year-to-date imports.

Indonesia sees a minor decline but remains a key player:

Indonesia’s imports of coal decreased by 2.61 percent to US$220.80 million in May, but it remains the second-largest supplier, accounting for 31.96 percent of YTD imports.

Russia and China experience significant declines:

Imports from Russia decreased by 9.01 percent to US$73.79 million in May. Imports from China saw a substantial drop of 55.11 percent to US$5.28 million. Laos also experienced a minor decrease of 1.88 percent.

Notable shifts in minor markets:

• Japan saw a significant increase as there were no imports in April but registered imports in May.
• Malaysia saw a complete halt in imports in May after having imports in April.

The overall decrease in May’s coal imports suggests a slight contraction in demand or a shift in sourcing strategies, with key suppliers like Australia and Indonesia maintaining their prominent roles despite the overall downturn.

See also: Vietnam’s Coal Industry 2025: Production, Imports & Future

Vietnam imports of coal, May 2025, US$ millions