China exported 940,000 mt of coal in November, down 26.6% from a year ago but up 19% from October, preliminary figures released Saturday by the country's General Administration of Customs showed.

In the first eleven months of the year, China exported 13.85 million mt of coal, down 21.2% from a year ago.

Chinese customs authorities have yet to release November import figures, but industry sources estimated that China's coal imports hit a record high of 22 million-23 million mt last month, compared with 15.69 million mt in October and the current record high of 19.12 million mt in September. Large volumes of imported coal have apparently resulted in congestion at Chinese coal ports in November, they said.

Meanwhile, China exported 90,000 mt of coke in November, down 10% from October and down 75% year on year. In the first eleven months of the year, China exported 3.2 million mt of coke, up 6.6% year on year.