China’s coal output fell 8.4 percent year on year to 1.34 billion tonnes during the first five months of the year, the top economic planning body said on June 29.

Coal imports rose 3.7 percent from one year earlier to 86.28 million tonnes during the five-month period, according to a statement on the website of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Exports more than doubled to 4.01 million tonnes.

Coal storage in major power plants totaled 54.32 million tonnes.

The statement added that stockpiles at coal companies amounted to 120 million tonnes at the end of May, down 9.2 percent year on year.