According to Custom statistics, China imported 30.55 million tons in January, 2013, increasing by 56.3% year-on-year and 12.99% higher than the previous month.

Industry professionals said that from this year, the monthly imports will maintain about 30 million tons, which will become normal.

Imported amount just reached 40.4 million tons in 2008 and surged to 125.83 million tons in 2009. China has become a net coal importer from a net exporter.

Analysts pointed out that the coal imports surging mainly because imported coal price is lower than domestic coal price.

Coal analysts from coal.glinfo.comsaid that the imported price of 5500 kcal thermal coal is 30-50 RMB/ton lower than Chinese price.

Source from CNSS