BEIJING, June 12  -- China sold less coal abroad in the first five months largely due to efforts to ensure domestic supply, the General Administration of Customs said here on Thursday.

     Between January and May, China exported 18.5 million tons of coal, a decline of 4.1 percent from the same period last year.

     But the export value rose 48.3 percent to 1.68 billion U.S. dollars as the average price was up 54.68 percent to 90.8 U.S. dollars per ton upon stronger demand worldwide.

     In a related development, the nation imported 18.8 million tons of coal in the January-May period, down 18.1 percent from the same period last year.