However, the NDRC did not give the specific total coal output in April. Neither has the National Bureau of Statistics published the country's coal output for April.

According to the NDRC, China's coal transportation volume grew 13.9 percent on year to 156 million tonnes in April, and the daily loading of coal by railway increased by 13.9 percent year on year to 76,710 railway truckloads.

By the end of April, coal stocks at Qinhuangdao port decreased by 3.3 million metric tons (tonnes) month on month to 4.66 million tonnes, up 1.11 million tonnes year on year. While those at major power plants increased 1.34 million tonnes to 44.41 million tonnes, down 330,000 tonnes year on year.

During the period of January to April, output of anthracite coal, bitumite and lignite surged 24.3 percent, 24.8 percent and 29.2 percent year on year.

China's total coal transportation volume amounted to 647 million tonnes during the period, up 18.9 percent year on year, compared to a 8.7 percent year on year decrease for the same period of 2009, and the daily loading of coal by railway went up 18.7 percent year on year to 78,496 railway truckloads.

According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs, China exported 7.41 million tonnes of coal in April, down 20.7 percent year on year, and imported 57.99 million tonnes, up 150 percent, resulting in 50.58 million tonnes of net imports, up 37.15 million tonnes year on year. (Edited by Li Xiaohui, lixh@xinhua.org)

(Source: iStockAnalyst )