China's coal production in April totaled 293 million tonnes, rising 4.1% year over year driven by increased domestic supply amid tighter import curbs, Reuters reported May 14 citing data from the National Statistics Bureau.
The output also rose from a five-month low of 290 million tonnes in March. Year-to-date, production was reported at 1.1 billion tonnes, up 3.8% year over year as the country's top three coal-producing regions Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia boosted their supplies, the newswire said citing the statistics bureau.
The Chinese government in April implemented stringent anti-pollution restrictions of coal imports in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang, Guangxi and Fujian that bolstered thermal coal from an eight-month low April 13, the report said.
Coal imports this year are projected to slide 8% year over year to 250 million tonnes, while the country's coal output is expected to edge up 5%.
Major utilities recently laid out plans to launch China's first price index for coal imports amid concerns over government efforts to slash foreign supply, which they said would result in another price rally and tighter stockpiles.
