China's coal business ran well inthe first quarter of 2004, with coal production and sales growing,according to statistics from China's coal association.

But coal supply and export have slightly shrunk, it said.

In the first three months, China produced 362.48 million tons of raw coal, up 58 million tons or 19.1 percent over the same period of 2003, with state-run, local and township mines covering 60.5 percent, 17 percent and 22.5 percent respectively of the total produce.

State mines produced 219.33 million tons, up 30.04 million tonsor 15.9 percent year-on-year, compared with local mines producing 61.57 million tons, up 5.26 million tons or 9.4 percent and township mines 81.58 million tons, up 2.27 millions tons or 38.6 percent respectively over the previous year.

According to the association, only the eastern China region, one of China's six major regions witnessed lower production than the same quarter of 2003.

But coal production in nine provincial level regions have soared more than 30 percent.

Source: Xinhua