HANOI, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam imported nearly 9.4 million tons of coal worth 934 million U.S. dollars from January to August, down 2.6 percent in volume but up 49.4 percent in value against the same period last year, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said on Tuesday.
In the eight-month period, coal volumes imported from Vietnam's three key markets, namely Australia, Russia, and China, decreased sharply, while those from Indonesia nearly doubled the figure in the whole 2016.
Indonesia became Vietnam's biggest coal importer in terms of volume, while Australia remained its biggest coal importer in terms of value.
Last year, Vietnam imported 13.3 million tons of coal worth 927 million U.S. dollars, recording respective surges of 92.4 percent and 69.4 percent.
Specifically, it spent 164 million U.S. dollars importing 1.6 million tons of coal from China.
Vietnam imports coal mainly to feed thermoelectric plants, steel refineries and cement factories.
