China becomes net coal importer

China imported 600,000 more metric tons of coal than it exported over the first nine months of the year, marking the first time the country has been a net coal importer, according to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs released on Monday. Xinhua reported (in Chinese). China exported 38 million tons of coal in the first nine months of 2007, down 20.9% over the same period last year, while coal imports were at 38.6 million, an increase of 47.6%. The decline of exported has been attributed to strong demand in the domestic market and the introduction of export tariffs on coal products from the end of 2006.