On April 16, the China National Coal Association stated that in the first quarter of the current year China's coal output and sales maintained a steady increase rate, rising by 8.3 percent and 6.8 percent respectively, compared with Q4 2010.
Accordingly, in the first quarter, total output of raw coal in China amounted to 792 million mt, up by 60.59 million mt year on year. Meanwhile, sales of domestic production coal reached 760 million mt, up 48.54 million mt year on year. The manufacturing purchasing managers index and manufacturing production index in China remain at high levels, driving demand for coal.