China produced an estimated total of 177.63 million tons of raw coal in January, a growth of 5.52 million tons or 3.2 percent over the same month of last year, sources with the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety said on Wednesday.

Of the total, major state-owned coal mines accounted for 100.29 million tons, or 56.5 percent, up 4.91 million tons, or 5.2 percent, coal mines under the administration of local governments made up 24.72 million tons, up 433,000 tons, or 1.8 percent, and township mines, 52.61 million tons, up 176,000 tons, or 0.3 percent.

Demand and consumption of coal peaked in January.

The sources said 110.22 million tons of coal was transported by trains, up 7.89 million tons, or 7.7 percent.

Major harbors nationwide accommodated a record 42.77 million tons of coal, up 3.31 million tons, or 8.4 percent. The growth was due largely to government urge to transport power coal in disaster relief against the severe winter weather from mid January to mid February.

In a related development, in January China exported 4.56 million tons of coal, down 64,000 tons or 1.4 percent from the same month of last year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2008)