ICYMI - Indonesia has banned coal exports in January (biggest customers includes China)

Indonesia has banned coal exports in January due to concerns that low supplies at domestic power plants could lead to widespread blackouts, a senior official at the energy ministry said on Saturday. Indonesia is the world's biggest exporter of thermal coal. Indonesia accounted for 74 per cent of all the thermal coal China imported in the first 11 months of 2021,

Indonesia is concerned that low supplies at domestic power plants could lead to widespread blackouts, hence the ban on exports.

China has boosted stockpiles in the back part of 2021 so the short-term impact looks small. An extension of the ban beyond January would pose supply issues though.