Qinhuangdao handles less coal in Nov

China’s largest coal-loading port Qinhuangdao handled 31.54 percent less coal in November as compared with its planned coal shipment for the month, sources with Qinhuangdao Port Group said.

Total coal throughput at the port was 12.63 million tonnes, 5.82 million tonnes below the plan set for November, mainly due to greatly reduced demand as affected by the global financial crisis.

Coal stock has been staying high in power plants in southern China, and many power plants suspended half of their generating units. Though coal price and shipping rate have fallen substantially, power plants are still slow to load coal from Qinhuangdao, one port official said.

The official said some miners have stopped coal production, as premium coals, which were badly wanted months ago, now also attracts no interest from buyers.

Total coal throughput reached 203.91 million tonnes in the Jan-Nov period, up 4.5% from the previous year. Among which, 190.5 million tonnes was shipped to domestic markets, up 8 percent year on year; and 13.41 million tonnes to abroad, down 28.6 percent year on year.

Qinhuangdao plans to handle 13.25 million tonnes of coal in December, with coal exports at 800 thousand tonnes, it said.