According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's coking coal imports totaled 7.4 million metric tons in April this year, rising by 9.5 percent month on month and up 44.6 percent compared to April 2012.

In April, Japan's coking coal imports from Australia amounted to 3.4 million metric tons, up 40.3 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, while Indonesia exported 1.8 million mt of coking coal to Japan in April, rising by 64 percent year on year.

In the first four months of 2013, Japan's coking coal imports amounted to 25.3 million metric tons, increasing by 11.3 percent year on year.