(Repeats story with no changes to text)
By Muyu Xu and Chen Aizhu
SINGAPORE, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Chinese utilities and
traders have stepped up purchases of Australian coal in
February, encouraged by signs of further policy relaxation after
trade partially resumed last month following a two-year hiatus.
In early January, Beijing gave permission to four
government-backed firms, comprising steel giant Baowu Group and
three state utilities, to ship in Australian coal, the first
sign of an easing of the unofficial import ban in place since
late 2020. The ban was imposed after relations between Beijing
and Canberra turned sour over several political and public
health matters.
A full resumption in trade between the world's biggest coal
consumer and the world's No. 2 exporter could support global
prices for the fuel used in power generation and steel
production.
At least 15 vessels hauling about 1.4 million tonnes of
February-loading Australian coal are bound for China, according
to shiptracking data from Refinitiv and Kpler.
Another more than 1 million tonnes of thermal coal have been
booked to load in March, a senior trader with a state-run
Chinese utility said.
"Trades have picked up significantly over the past three
days following (the) ministry's remarks," he said.
A spokeswoman for China's Ministry of Commerce, responding
to a query at a news conference last Thursday about the process
for importing Australian coal, said it was a normal commercial
activity and that trades are processed via an automatic import
licence system.
She added that it was up to companies to independently
decide on coal imports based on their needs, technology and
market situation.
However, traders remained cautious about possible
bureaucratic delays.
"In theory, firms who acquire the licence would be able to
get their cargoes through customs," said another Chinese utility
official.
"But it is still not clear if there will be hurdles at the
customs clearance process, and we will have to wait and see once
the coal arrives."
Some of the vessels heading to China may change destination
if cargoes get resold, traders said.
Chinese buyers may also face competition in Australian coal
purchases as producers have pivoted their sales to other markets
in China's absence.
On an earnings call on Tuesday, BHP's Chief
Executive Mike Henry said: "We welcome about the opportunity to
engage with customers in China over potential coal sales while
keeping in mind that we did need to pivot our sales to other
markets."
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China's coal imports from Australian coal ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
(Reporting by Muyu Xu and Chen Aizhu, additional reporting by
Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Florence Tan and Susan
Fenton)
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