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Though a slower pace of consumption growth in recent years has caused strains of oversupply, the country is reportedly forecast to hit 270 million tons of imported coal for 2012.
According to official state media outlet Xinhua, coal imports in the first 11 months of 2012 reached 245Mt, up 35% from a year earlier.
The continuation of high-volume Chinese imports is expected to sustain supply from major Asia-Pacific exporters, particularly Australia and Indonesia.
China became a net importer of coal in 2009, but it could see a surge in exports this year if a 40% tariff on coking coal exports and a 10% duty on crude coal is lifted.
Shanxi Coal Imports and Exports Group assistant general manager Wang Songtao told Xinhua that an annual export of 20Mt could break the supply-demand balance and drag down global coal prices.
