China's net coal imports this year are expected to reach around 150 million tonnes less than last year's 164.83 million tonnes, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday, citing the country's coal association.
The annual output is estimated to exceed 3.5 billion tonnes this year, compared with about 3.3 billion tonnes last year. Domestic demand will keep rising at a moderate pace amid steady economic growth, but uncertainty in the macro economy will decelerate demand growth, predicted Wang Zhanjun, an official with China National Coal Association. Meanwhile the state electricity authority said power cuts were likely this winter due to tight coal supplies and a fall in hydroelectric output. China relies on coal for the vast majority of its power-generating capacity.