China's raw coal production hit a record high in the first five months of 2025, the highest level ever recorded for this period, laying a solid foundation for balancing the surging summer electricity demand.
According to the latest data released by China National Coal Association (CNCA), the country's total raw coal production went up 6 percent year on year to 1.99 billion tons in the first five months of 2025.
In May alone, the large-scale raw coal production nationwide reached 400 million tons, up 4.2 percent year on year. Average daily output reached 13.01 million tons, the highest ever for the same period, and 0.2 percent higher than in April.
As of mid-June, coal stockpiles at China's power plants reached around 210 million tons, a 3 million-ton increase from the late May level, providing a 35-day national supply ahead of peak summer demand. The raw coal reserve also hit all time high, boosted by increasing domestic production and high import volume, according to the CNCA.
"In 2025, domestic coal production continues to increase while imports remain high. With the total coal stockpiles of the country running up to historically high, we expect supply and demand in the coal market to remain relatively balanced and stable throughout the year," said Zhang Hong, spokesman for the CNCA.
Chinese coal production companies have ramped up efforts to maintain steady production since June, supported by smart technologies and logistics innovation.
In Shuozhou, north China's Shanxi Province, the country's first fully unmanned open-pit drilling rig has been operating around the clock. Driver-less electric trucks and automated excavation and transport equipment are working in tandem, ensuring the stable coal production. A real-time geological monitoring system helps assess coal seam structure and geological changes, ensuring both quality and safety in extraction.
"Since June, we've produced 7.45 million tons of raw coal, up 7.2 percent year on year. We've also shipped 6.15 million tons of commercial coal, including 4.2 million tons by rail, averaging 17 trainloads per day," said Ding Huanjie from ChinaCoal Pingshuo Coal Company Limited.
In Wanzhou Port of Chongqing in southwest China, coal shipments arriving by rail are being loaded onto vessels bound for Hunan Province in central China.
Sichuan Coal Industry Group Limited Liability Company, the largest coal producer and supplier in southwestern region of Sichuan Province and Chongqing, has adopted an innovative rail-river multimodal logistics system, reducing single-trip transport costs by 40 percent.
The company has also deployed mining tunnel boring machines, quadrupling coal extraction efficiency and supporting power generation to meet the region's summer power demand.
"By the end of June, we've completed 19 intelligent fully mechanized mining faces and produced a total of 13.6 million tons of coal, up 16.3 percent year on year. Our medium- and long-term power coal contracts have been fulfilled at a rate of 102 percent," said Wang Changrun, chairman of the company.
China's coal output reaches record high, bolstering summer power supply
China's coal output reaches record high, bolstering summer power supply
