China’s coal imports climbed sharply in September to reach their highest level in nine months, the peak so far in 2025, as domestic production declined and local prices surged, according to official data released on Monday.
The world’s largest coal consumer imported 46 million tonnes of coal in September, the highest monthly total this year, figures from the General Administration of Customs revealed, as reported by Reuters.
Despite the surge, September’s import volumes were still below those recorded in the same month last year, when Chinese buyers took advantage of falling international coal prices to ramp up purchases.
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In recent weeks, coal production in China has dipped due to government efforts to rein in oversupply and stabilise domestic prices.
Earlier in the year, authorities reportedly instructed coal-fired power plants to increase their stockpiles of domestically produced coal, part of a broader policy aimed at stimulating local demand and strengthening market prices.
Rising domestic coal prices during the second half of 2025 have now made imported coal more attractive, fuelling renewed demand from power producers and industries.
After months of declining import volumes earlier this year, with July figures down 23 per cent year-over-year, coal shipments into China rebounded in August and remained elevated through September.
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The combination of lower domestic output and surging electricity demand during August’s intense heatwaves also helped drive the uptick in imports.
“The sharp recovery in domestic prices in the latter half of the year has widened the gap between local and imported coal prices, making imports significantly more competitive,” said Feng Dongbin, Vice General Manager at consultancy Fenwei Digital Information Technology, in an interview with Reuters.
For much of 2025, China had reduced imports and increased coal exports to manage an oversupplied market.
However, the recent surge in imports marks a turning point, and analysts are watching closely to determine whether this is a temporary spike driven by summer energy needs or the start of a longer-term shift as Beijing tightens control over excess capacity in key industries.
