China: Jan’17 Coal Imports Trail Behind Dec’16 Figure by 7.7%

Coal imports in China in Jan’17 dipped by 7.7% over the imports in Dec’16 as industrial activity waned during the pre-Lunar Year holidays.

According to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, 24.91 MnT of coal was imported into that country in Jan’17. In Dec’16, 26.84 MnT was imported.

Strikingly, the coal imports in Jan’17 were remarkably higher by 63.55% than the imports, at 15.23 MnT, in Jan’16. The higher imports were fallout of shrinking domestic production following the Chinese government’s efforts to cut coal production in the country to curb the alarming levels of pollution and at the same time rationalize domestic demand with supply.