China’s coal imports drop by nearly half

China cut its coal imports by nearly half in the first quarter of 2015 as new pollution rules took effect.

China, the world’s largest coal user, imported 49.07 million metric tons of coal in the first three months of the year, down 42 percent from the prior year, the Guardian reported.

{mosads}Zhang Xiaojin, an analyst at Everbright Futures, told the Guardian that demand for coal is falling.

“The rigid demand for coal is no longer there despite collapsing prices. Power plants no longer purchase extra coal, and traditional heavy consumers from the industrial sector are buying less amid economic slowdown,” Zhang said.

But tough new environmental rules are also playing a major role as China tries to slash pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

As part of that effort, the country has instituted its toughest standards yet on imported coal, which has the dual effects of propping up the domestic market and reducing oversupply.

China agreed late last year that it would stop growing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and coal reduction efforts are a major part of its strategy.