November 20, 2008

Chinese coal output in H1 2008 up by 11.1%

According to Mr Wang Zhanjun vice board chairperson of China Coal Transportation & Sale Society in a meeting, China's raw coal output grew 11.1% to 1.239 billion tonnes in the first half of 2008 with commercial coal sales volume increased by 10.7% to 1.201 billion tonnes.

Mr Liu Jianzhong deputy general manager of China's top coking coal maker, Shanxi Coking Coal Group Co Ltd said that, China would likely to export 14 million tonne to 15 million tonnes of coke annually during 2008 to 2010 He said that that the gap between global coke supply and demand had reached 7.5 million tonnes in 2007 but the supply would gradually exceed the demand by 12 million tonnes in 2011.

Mr Wu Chenghou Consultant of CCST said "China is facing flinty coal shortage of about 40 million tonnes.

In 2007, China exported 15.3 million tonnes of coke and semi coke accumulatively.