According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's coking coal imports totaled 5.5 million metric tons in December last year, rising by 2.2 percent month on month and up 7.6 percent compared to December 2011.

In 2012, Japan's coking coal imports amounted to 71.5 million metric tons, increasing by 4.1 percent year on year.

Last year, Japan's coking coal imports from Australia amounted to 37.6 million metric tons, up 2.3 compared to the previous year, while Indonesia exported 17.9 million mt of coking coal to Japan in 2012, rising by 21.95 percent year on year.