Posted 3/18/2024, 4:37:00 AM
China's Coal Output Falls for First Time in Years, Raising Economic Questions
- China's thermal coal output fell 4.2% in January-February, the first decline since 2021
- The drop comes after years of record production to bolster China's energy security
- Falling output is raising safety issues and slowing mining in some regions
- Coal power expanded 9.7% by relying more on imports amid declining domestic supply
- The numbers show a mixed picture for China's economy and commodity demand
