China's Coal Output Drops 2.73% in First Two Months of 2014

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources China (Beijing, China)--China's coal output reached 535 million metric tons in the first two months of 2014, a drop of 2.73% from the same period in 2013. The output in January reached 290 million metric tons, a drop of 6.5% from the same month last year, and the output in February reached 245 million metric tons, an increase of 2.1% from February 2013, the National Development and Reform Commission said on March 21.

Coal output in January shrank as a result of the Spring Festival. Output has since returned to normal levels.

From January through February, coal shipments by rail reached 393 million metric tons, an increase of 0.5% over the same period last year. Railway shipments in February totaled 176 million metric tons, a drop of 4.9%. Shipments on the Datong-Qinghuangdao Railway reached 73.77 million metric tons, which was the same level as last year; shipments on Houma-Yueshan Railway reached 29.56 million metric tons, an increase of 2.3%.

As of the end of February, stockpiles for coal producers reached 85 million metric tons, an increase of 13.4%; stockpiles for key power plants reached 71.86 million metric tons, which is equivalent to 20 days' consumption; the stockpiles for major ports reached 49.55 million metric tons, an increase of 5% over the same period last year.

According to customs statistics, from January through February accumulated coal imports reached 58.73 million metric tons, an increase of 9% over January-February 2013. Imports in February fell 2.1% to 22.82 million metric tons. In the first two months of 2014, net imports of coal reached 57.49 million metric tons, an increase of 9.3% over 2013.

China's coke output reached 75.76 million metric tons in the first two months of 2014, an increase of 3% over the same period last year.

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