China exported 3.66 million tonnes of coal in January, down 36.3 per cent year on year, according to the country's General Administration of Customs. However, the value of those export was up 19.3 percent to USD 482 million on the back of rising prices.
The average coal export price per tonne in January rose 87.5 percent year-on-year to131.8 U.S. dollars.
Total exports of coal in 2008 was 45.43 million tonnes, down 14.6 percent, while imports were 40.4 million tonnes, down 20.8 percent.
Last year China stepped up controls over coal exports to meet domestic demand when prices of international crude oil soared and the snow disaster in southern China increased the need for coal.
From 20 August 2008 the country enacted a 10 percent export tariff on energy products such as soft coal and coking coal.
However the financial crisis has led to lower demand for coal and inventory build-ups at some major ports in the country.
Source: Xinhua
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