(Yicai Global) Oct. 18 --  China's coal production increased during the first three quarters of  this year while the growth rate slowed down last month.

China's coal output rose  4.5 percent from a previous year to 2.74 billion tons, the National  Bureau of Statistics released today.

In September, the nation  churned out 320 million tons of coal, climbing 4.4 percent from a year  ago with the growth rate decreasing by 0.6 percentage point from  August. 

China imported 250.6  million tons coal during the nine months, the Administration of Customs  said in a statement on Oct. 14. The September tally was 30.29 million  tons.

Editor: Emmi Laine