China's rail coal growth eases as domestic production slumps

China's national railway system moved 1.61 billion tonnes of coal in the first seven months of this year, up 2.4% from a year earlier, according to a report by the National Railway Administration on its website on August 18. The growth had slowed from 4.1% recorded in the January-June period, Mysteel Global noted.

Total rail freight reached 3.05 billion tonnes over January-July, up 1.4% on year, the administration reported. Coal's share of national rail cargo held broadly steady at about 53%. Specifically, coal shipments delivered by railways under the China State Railway Group – which excludes those operating local lines – totaled 1.22