China imported 7.61 million mt of thermal coal in May, up 2.92 million mt or 62.2% year on year, according to data released Wednesday by the General Administration of Customs.

The May imports were also 500,000 mt or 7.03% higher than April’s volume, the data showed.

The 7.61 million mt included bituminous material and sub-bituminous coal, but excluded imports of lower CV lignite material.

Over January-May, China imported 33.06 million mt of thermal coal, down 8.57% from the same period in 2015.

China imported 22.18 million mt of lower CV lignite material in January-May, up 0.06% from the same period in 2015.