Latest News

Chinese coal group cuts 2024 output forecast

The deputy chairman of the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association (CCTD). told a seminar on Wednesday that yearly output growth would be. in a series of 1% to 1% this year, having previously anticipated. growth of 1%.

China, the world's greatest coal producer, mined 4.66 billion. metric lots of the fuel in 2023, up 2.9% year-on-year, according. to the National Bureau of Statistics.

CCTD deputy chairman Li Xuegang said it will be extremely. tough for China's essential coal producing center of Shanxi to meet. its 1.3 billion heap production target for the year, dragging. down total output.

The tighter supply, combined with anticipated stronger domestic. demand, will support Chinese coal costs at levels of a minimum of. 860 yuan ($ 121.24) per lot, greater than last year, Li said.

Shanxi has had to pause production at many mines for security. checks, following an uptick in deadly accidents.

National coal output in April fell to the lowest regular monthly. level because October 2022.

Li forecast China would add 40 gigawatts (GW) of brand-new coal. power plant capability in 2024. That is down slightly from. previous forecasts, he said.

The U.S.-based Global Energy Monitor stated that 47.4 GW of new. coal power plants came online in China in 2023.

May coal imports by China, the world's largest purchaser, will. fall from April's 45.25 million metric loads, CCTD expert Su. Huipeng told the workshop, mentioning a narrowing rate arbitrage,. high power plant inventories, and a boost in hydropower. generation.

However the industry group did not provide a fresh projection for. China's yearly coal imports. Shipments stood at 161.15 million. tons in the January-April period, a 13% boost year-on-year.

China will increase purchases of Russian coal in the coming. months, Su stated, as Russia's choice to suspend coal export. duties from May to August provides a temporary boost.

Still, the boost will be restricted because of logistical. constraints and western sanctions on Russian coal traders, Su. added.

China's choice to restore its own coal import tariffs of. 3-6% on Russian and Mongolian sellers from January, nevertheless, has. had a reasonably restricted impact on coal imports, according to. Li.

(source: Reuters)