BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s curbs on coal production could tighten further toward the end of 2025, making a rebound in output in the world’s largest producer unlikely, a China Coal Energy official told a results briefing on Tuesday.
China placed curbs on coal production following an unexpected supply increase in the first half of the year that weighed on prices, China Coal said previously.
The country’s state asset regulator has held meetings with industry participants calling for prices to be kept at a “reasonable” and “stable” level, added Li Xueyuan, an official in China Coal Energy’s marketing department.
Li’s outlook is for supply and demand to be relatively balanced in the near term as the winter heating season supports coal consumption, he said.
China Coal Energy is the listed arm of the country’s fourth-largest producer, China Coal Group.
China’s coal production dropped 1.8% year-on-year in September to 411.51 million metric tons, according to statistics bureau data, because of the ongoing restrictions.
On a cumulative basis however, output in the first nine months was still up 2% from the year-ago period at 3.57 billion metric tons, boosted by the increase in the first half.
(Reporting by Colleen Howe; Editing by Jan Harvey)
