According to the State Statistical Bureau, the national raw coal production was 1.65 billion tons in 2003, increasing by 15 percent compared with that of last year. The fast growth of coal production is due to the continuous and fast development of the national economy in China in the past two years, which was also consequence of the government's stable monetary policy and active fiscal policy.

In 2004, the government will all the same hold to the policy of expanding internal demand, and will keep carrying out active fiscal policy and stable monetary policies. As a result, the macro economy will maintain the high growth rate of over 8 percent and the coal market will maintain the prosperous production and sales. The consumption is predicted to reach 1.63 billion tons.

The 2004 national economy is expected to run smoothly. The production of major industries that consume coals, including electric power, metallurgic, construction materials, oil and chemistry, is growing gradually, which results in a great demand for coal. The external environment of coal market is excellent. In 2004, the coal consumption in electric power, metallurgic, construction materials and chemistry industries is expected to increase. The electric power industry is estimated to consume 0.83 billion tons of coal, metallurgic industry about 0.177 billion, construction materials industry about 0.21 billion and chemistry industry about 58.21 million.

In 2003, the export of coal of China was 93.95 million tons, mainly to South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The export proportions of steaming coal, coking coal and blind coal were 78.17 percent, 13.98 percent and 7.84 percent respectively. Coal export is estimated to decrease in 2004 to 80 million tons.

In 2003, the import of coal was 11.03 million tons, mainly from Australia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The major coal products imported were thermal coal, coking coal and blind coal, with proportions of 43.94 percent, 23.62 percent and 30.94 percent. Coal import is estimated to decrease in 2004.

The growth rate of national production of raw coal will stay about 13 percent in 2004, with a total production of about 1.8 billion tons, which will on the whole satisfy the market demand. The low supply of power coal will push the market price up, which will form a pressure on the electricity price. As a result, the electricity price will probably go up too. The price of coking coal in domestic market will continue to go up in the first six months, and may fall from July, but the possibility of a big fall is very small. The coke resources are becoming rare and the price will probably go up.

2.Analysis on Chinese Coal Export
2.1 A Review on Chinese Coal Export of Recent Years
2.2 Analysis on Chinese Coal Export 2003
2.3 Forecast of the Demand of Coal Export 2004
2.4 Comment on the Forecast of the Demand of Coal Export 2004

3.Analysis on Chinese Coal Import
3.1 A Review on Chinese Coal Import of Recent Years
3.2 Analysis on Chinese Coal Import 2003
3.3 Forecast and Comment on the Demand of Chinese Coal Import 2004

4.Forecast of the Supply and Demand of Coal in China 2004
4.1 Analysis on Supply and Demand of Chinese Coal Market
4.2 Analysis on the Price of Chinese Coal Market
4.3 Breaking through the System Obstacles against the Development of Chinese Coal  Industry

5.Statistical Data of the Coal Industry
5.1 Operation Data
5.2 Enterprise Data
5.3 Products Data