China, one of the largest coal producing countries in the world, turned out 1.57 billion tonnes of coal in the first six months this year, rising 20.1% compared with a year earlier, data released by the National Development and Reform Commission on its website on Jul 22.

Rail coal transports in China totaled 980 million tonnes during the preceding period, an increase of 17.5% from a year ago.

And the country exported 10.14 million tonnes of coal in the first half of this year, falling 13.1% year on year, while it imported a total of 81.09 million tonnes of coal, soaring 70.6% compared to the previous year, customs data show.

Besides, coal stockpiled at key power plants reached to 57.80 million tonnes by the end of Jun, as hydropower generation increased in the wake of sufficient rainfalls in southern China, 8.23 million more than a month earlier.

But the stockpiles at Qinhuangdao Port totaled 5.66 million tonnes by Jun, down by 540,000 tonnes from a month ago.