China imported 2.99 million tonnes of coal in January, up 12 percent from the previous month but down 29.5 percent from the year-ago period, the country's General Administration of Customs said on Tuesday.
China's power plants and traders have been taking advantage of cheaper prices in the international markets, traders said.
"Imports from Vietnam jumped in January, after Vietnam loosened up its policy on coal exports, and now prices are less than half the highest point in the last year," a Guangdong-based trader said.
Traders also noted that imports of coking coal increased as demand picked up as production resumed at China's small and medium-sized steel mills.
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