Coal Imports May Drop in China on Growth, Hydro: Energy Markets

China, the world’s largest energy consumer, may reduce monthly coal imports to the lowest level in more than a year in the second half as the economy cools.

Purchases may drop to 59.5 million metric tons, or 9.9 million tons a month, from 81 million tons in the first six months of the year, a decline of 27 percent, according to the median estimate of four industry officials and analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. The monthly forecast would be the smallest level of imports since May last year.