China records annual increases in fossil fuel production, imports

By Emre Aytekin

China recorded a year-over-year increase in its production and import of fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas and oil, in the first 11 months of 2023.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the country's output of natural gas during the January–November period expanded by 6%, with crude oil rising by 1.8% and coal by 2.9% annually.

Imports of coal surged by 64.9% over the same time, while crude oil imports and natural gas imports increased by 12.1% and 8.5%, respectively.

The world's second-largest economy also produced 4.24 billion tons of coal during the same 11-month period, with coal imports of 4.27 billion tons surpassing domestic output.

The rise was partly driven by cheaper imported coal prices, as the state-owned coal supplier company halted its two-year unofficial boycott of coal imports from Australia at the beginning of the year.

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

* Writing by Sibel Morrow