China expands its fossil fuel output and imports on an annual basis

Coal imports have increased by 64.9%, while crude oil and natural gas imports have increased by 12.1% and 8.5%, respectively.

In the first 11 months of 2023, China increased its production and imports of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil year on year.

According to National Bureau of Statistics data, the country’s natural gas output increased by 6% between January and November, while crude oil increased by 1.8% and coal increased by 2.9%.

Coal imports climbed by 64.9% during the same period, while crude oil and natural gas imports increased by 12.1% and 8.5%, respectively.

During the same 11-month period, the world’s second-largest economy produced 4.24 billion tons of coal, with imports of 4.27 billion tons exceeding domestic output.

The hike was fueled in part by lower imported coal prices, as the state-owned coal supplier business ended its two-year unofficial boycott of Australian coal imports at the start of the year.

Furthermore, China produced 209.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas during the first 11 months of the year, while imports totaled 107.4 million tons.