During the first quarter of this year China imported 14.3 million tons of coal, up 60 percent year on year and exported 11.39 tons, down 32 percent, according to customs statistics. This created a net import of 2.91 million tons, for the first time putting China as a net importer of coal.

To make rational use of both domestic and overseas coal markets, China, based on the cancellation of export rebates made earlier, reduced temporarily its coal import tax rate from 3-6 percent to 0-1 percent in last November, and at the same time imposed a 5 percent export tariff on coke.

Currently, China mainly imports coal from Indonesia and Vietnam due to relatively short transport distances.