China imported 4,200,000 tons of coal valued at 261.779 million US dollars in March 2008.  The import in January-March reached 11,260,000 tons valued at 708.413 million US dollars, down 21.3 percent and up 3.9 percent respectively year on year.

   Following is a table showing the import from 2004 to March 2008, released by the General Administration of Customs:

             Cumulative   Change y-o-  Cumulative   Change y-o- 
             Quantity   ( y (%)        Value (      y (%)       
             1,000 tons)               million US               
                                       dollars)                 
                                                                
2004         18,610       73.0         886.723      144.0       
                                                                
                                                                
2005         26,170       40.1         1,383.686    55.2        
                                                                
                                                                
2006         38,250       46.1         1,618.809    17.0        
                                                                
                                                                
2007                                                            
                                                                
January      4,700        81.1         203.044      83.3        
                                                                
February     8,630        65.8         394.489      63.6        
                                                                
March        14,300       60.7         681.768      60.3        
                                                                
April        19,220       50.5         908.332      52.2        
                                                                
May          22,970       44.0         1,069.769    48.8        
                                                                
June         27,070       47.6         1,259.790    56.1        
                                                                
July         30,960       49.6         1,426.103    60.5        
                                                                
August       34,990       51.7         1,609.033    60.6        
                                                                
September    38,610       47.6         1,780.623    59.2        
                                                                
October      42,340       44.1         1,961.086    58.2        
                                                                
November     46,680       38.5         2,185.639    53.0        
                                                                
December     51,020       33.9         2,421.605    49.7        
                                                                
                                                                
2008                                                            
                                                                
January      4,240        -9.9         261.913      28.9        
                                                                
February     7,060        -18.2        446.470      13.1        
                                                                
March        11,260       -21.3        708.413      3.9