China's coal, oil and other core energy sectors maintained steady and orderly production in the first quarter of 2026, the National Energy Administration (NEA) announced at a press conference on Monday.
In terms of coal production, raw coal output from enterprises above designated size reached 1.2 billion tonnes nationwide in the January to March period, representing a year-on-year increase of 0.1 percent.
The price of thermal coal under medium- and long-term contracts at Qinhuangdao Port (5,500 kcal/kg) averaged 682 yuan (about 99.9 U.S. dollars) per tonne in March, a slight increase of 2 yuan from February, effectively stabilizing the supply of coal for power generation.
Since the start of April, China's average daily dispatched coal output has consistently remained above 12.5 million tonnes, a relatively high level. As of April 23, coal stockpiles at state-regulated power plants across the country reached 190 million tonnes, sufficient to cover 32 days of consumption, also sitting at a historically high level.
"Overall, the domestic coal market is characterized by mild price gains, ample inventories and balanced supply and demand. Coal has played a prominent role in shoring up the bottom line of the country's energy supply," said Zhang Xing, deputy director of the General Office at the NEA.
Alongside the steady coal market, China's crude oil and natural gas sectors also delivered stable operation in the same period, providing effective support for economic growth and residential energy needs.
In the first three months of the year, China's crude oil output hit 54.8 million tonnes, a 1.3 percent year-on-year increase. Crude oil imports reached 146.838 million tonnes, marking an 8.9 percent year-on-year rise, while estimated crude oil processing volume came in at 181.7 million tonnes, up 3.1 percent from the same period of last year.
Since the launch of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), China's annual crude oil output has consistently stayed above 200 million tonnes and repeatedly hit new highs. Meanwhile, the country's natural gas output has registered annual growth of more than 10 billion cubic meters for nine consecutive years.
The steady and orderly supply of oil and gas has effectively guaranteed the stable operation of China's economy and met the energy demands of people's daily lives.
China's coal, oil production logs steady growth in Q1
