BEIJING, July 15 Reuters China39;s coal output rose to a sixmonth high in June, statistics bureau data showed on Monday, notching the first yearonyear increase of 2024 as safety inspections that constrained production earlier in the year eased.

The world39;s largest coal producer mined 405.38 million metric tons of the fuel last month, a 3.6 increase on the year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics NBS showed.

The sixmonth high was calculated averaging out JanuaryFebruary production, since NBS reports the two months in a combined data release to smooth out the effects of the lunar new year holiday which falls in either month.

Average daily output also rose to the highest level since December, at 13.5 million tons.

Lower production from China39;s coking coal hub of Shanxi had weighed on output during MarchMay after the local government ordered a series of safety checks following an uptick in deadly accidents, and told miners to curb excess production. The province mined 29 of China39;s coal last year.

The lower output during JanuaryMay continued to weigh on the yearonyear comparison for the first half.

Output in JanuaryJune stood at 2.27 billion tons, down 1.7 compared with the same period of last year.

Reporting by Colleen Howe; Editing by Stephen Coates

Source Reuters