Reuters quoted customs data from both countries showed that China overtook Japan as the world top coal importer in 2011 and partly driven by robust Chinese demand.

Data from the country showed that China, also the world biggest coal producer and consumer imported 182.4 million tonnes of the fuel in 2011 up by 10.8%YoY.

Japan customs-cleared imports fell 5.1% to 175.2 million tonnes last year and hurt by slack demand for coking coal as steelmakers curbed production.

(Sourced from Reuters)