Vietnam Coal Exports Down 15.6% to 4.7M Tons in Q1: Ministry
Vietnam exported a total of 4.7 million tons of coal in the first quarter of this year, down 15.6% from a year earlier, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Domestic coal consumption rose 22% on-year to 5.2 million in the quarter, the ministry attributed, giving no details on revenues.
The country reported a total of five million tons of coal in stock as of end-March, it added.
Analysts said Vietnam should stop exporting coal as soon as possible for national reserves as the country is forecast to have to start importing coal from 2012.
The state-owned Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) has set a target to produce between 46 million and 48 million tons of coal this year. The group plans to sell 43 million tons of coal in 2010, including 18 million tons for exports.
Last year, Vinacomin exported 23.8 million tons of coal, accounting for 54.71% of its coal output in the year. (Trade & Industry)
Vietnamese
