Himfr reports that in the first half of this year, coal production and sales continued to increase; the supply and demand is balanced, fixed asset investment is in steady growth, economic operation quality has steadily improved. It is forecasted that in the second half of 2010, the supply and demand will balance, the coal demand growth will slow, and the pressures of supply exceeding demand will increase. Himfr analyzes in the first half-year the basic situation of the economic operation of coal production and sales continued to increase. In the first half, the completion of the national coal output is 1.57 billion tons, year-on-year increase 263 million tons. In the same period of time, China completed 1.54 billion tons of coal sales, an increase of 300 million tons. Coal shipment rapidly increased. In the first half, the national railway shipped 97.9 billion tons of coal, a year-on-year increase of 146 million tons, up 17.5%; the nation's major ports shipped 270 million tons of coal, year-on-year increase of 44.5 million tons, and an increase of 19.7%. Coal imports continue to increase, exports continued to decline. In the first half of 2010, China exported 10.14 million tons of coal, year-on-year down 1.33 million tons, and imported 81.09 million tons, year-on-year increase of 33.56 million tons. Chinese coal net imports were 70.95 million tons. The economic operation of the coal industry faces major contradictions and problems.

    First, the national macro-control affects the development of coal market, which improves quality requirements on the coal economic operation. This year national economic development is faced with the complex domestic and international situation; the international financial crisis is still in effect, while domestic economic development is faced with numerous conflicts and problems, the macro-control task is very difficult, and the resulting coal demand has changed significantly. In the second half-year, with the economic restructuring, energy conservation, elimination of backward production capacity and further implementation of policies, coal demand growth will be inhibited to some extent; the coal economy has stable operations but will face major challenges.

    Second, coal consumption has substantially increased, while the supply declined.

    Third, international coal market uncertainty increased the impact on the domestic stable coal market. This year, coal imports substantially increased, which brought a great impact on domestic coal supply. International coal prices continue to rise, which will give a certain degree of support for domestic coal prices, and restrain a large number of imported coals. Meanwhile, with Japan, Korea, India and other Asian countries' economies gradually recover, coal import demand increased, while exports to Asian markets and international coal resources are limited, which will also bring new challenges for China as a large importer of coal.

    Himfr analyzes that in the second half year, the coal market supply and demand will balance, and production will continue to maintain relatively fast growth, demand growth slow, oversupply pressures increase.