(Yicai Global) Dec. 15 -- China’s coal production grew 1.5 percent last month from the same period last year, while its imports of the black gold were down 43.8 percent, according to the latest data.

November’s crude coal output was up 0.1 percentage point from October to 350 million tons, the National Bureau of Statistics announced today.

Meanwhile the country imported 2.5 percentage points less coal than it did in October at 11.67 million tons, it added.

In the 11 months ended Nov. 30, the country’s coal production rose 0.4 percent year on year to 3.48 billion tons, while its coal imports dropped 10.8 percent to 260 million tons of coal.

Editor: Kim Taylor