Jun. 20, 2012 (China Knowledge) - Shandong Province saw its output of raw coal reach 63.54 million metric tons in the first five months of this year, up 1.01% YoY, according to data from the province's coal industry bureau.

The province's sales of commercial coal rose 1.01% YoY to 60.32 million metric tons in the five-month period.

Coal enterprises in the province realized RMB 115.2 billion in operating revenue in the period, 22.3% more than in the corresponding period of 2011. However, the growth rate was 7 percentage points lower than that in the first five months of 2011 as coal prices have been in downward trend for seven consecutive months.

The coal industry in the province saw its profit decline 11.1% YoY to RMB 14.5 billion in the first five months.

Shandong's coal output was about 152 million metric tons in 2011, the eighth consecutive year for the output to stay above 150 million metric tons.