China's coal imports rose 21% in July due to strong summer electricity demand.

China's coal imports jumped 21.4% from 32.89 million metric tons a month ago. Customs data show that the strong demand for electricity boosts households and businesses'air conditioning in the face of hot weather. China is the world's largest coal user, absorbing 187.36 million tons of fuel in the first seven months of 2019, an increase of 7% over the same period last year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs on Thursday. Last month, the State Grid also recorded the highest transmission load ever recorded in 10 provinces, including the industrial heartlands of Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Even if the customs stopped clearing coal from Dalian in the north to Fangcheng Port in the south, imports were increasing, but no explanation was given. Traders said that some inland ports in Inner Mongolia also tightened coal imports by reducing the number of trucks that could enter border checkpoints. Traders and other market participants said they did not expect the restrictions to be lifted in the short term because China had imported a lot of coal this year and domestic mine production had been rising. The central government has been urging domestic coal miners to increase production to ensure adequate fuel supply. Chinese miners dug 33.33 million tons of coal in June, an increase of 10.4% over the same month in 2018, according to government data. The National Bureau of Statistics will release July production data on August 14. Power coal prices on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange did not change much Thursday, at 577.8 yuan ($82.06) per ton.