May. 17, 2012 (China Knowledge) - China Coal Energy Co Ltd<601898><1898>, the country's second-largest coal miner by revenue, produced 9.06 million tons of commercial coal last month, 2.4% more than that of April 2011.

In a statement, the Shanghai and Hong Kong-listed firm's commercial coal sales increased by 2.1% from a year earlier to 11.58 million tons in April 2012.

During the period from January to April 2012, the Chinese coal giant produced 37.82 million tons of commercial coal, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 8.8%, and the firm's commercial coal sales grew 5% from a year earlier to 44.09 million tons.

The company has posted RMB 2.64 billion-net profit for the first quarter of this year, up 14.6% year on year, and its earnings per share increased 17.6% year on year to RMB 0.20.

Operating revenue for the first quarter amounted to RMB 21.92 billion, 4.83% more than in the same period of 2011.