Q1 coal import surge unlikely to continue

Renewable energy use, low season, curbs on inflows, green drive factors

China's coal import surge from last year's low base during the first quarter this year is unlikely to continue in the months to come, as the import volume may fluctuate or show a decreasing trend amid the rise of renewable energy as a share of overall energy consumption, industry experts said on Friday after crunching the latest data.

In the first quarter, China imported 101.8 million metric tons of coal, up more than 96 percent year-on-year. The value of imports rose nearly 77 percent year-on-year to 93.54 billion yuan ($13.68 billion), data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Thursday.

The country brought in 41.17 million tons of coal in March, the highest level since January 2020, up 151 percent year-on-year.