BIMCO: Coal shipments jump 14% in June, driven by Chinese demand

A 14% jump in global coal shipments in June 2026, driven by Chinese import demand following a Shanxi mining accident and reduced domestic production, has boosted dry bulk (panamax) freight rates and trade flows. Ongoing transit disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to redirect energy demand toward coal in Korea, Japan, and the EU, while a partial US-Iran ceasefire has increased ship transits through the strait, though security challenges persist.