China exported 2.02 million metric tons of coal in October, according to preliminary data released by the General Administration of Customs Wednesday.

The figure is 21% lower than exports of 2.56 million tons in October 2008.

For the January-October period, China's coal exports fell 53% on year to 16.85 million tons, while coke exports totaled 360,000 tons, down 97%, according to the data.

China exported 40,000 tons of coke in October.

The preliminary data didn't specify October import volumes for both coal and coke.