Steelmaker to increase coking coal imports

SHANGHAI - Maanshan Iron & Steel Co, the second-biggest Chinese steelmaker listed in Hong Kong, will increase coking coal imports this year, adding to rising global demand that's sent prices soaring.

The mill bought between 800,000 metric tons and 900,000 tons of the raw material from BHP Billiton Ltd, the biggest exporter, last year, Chairman Gu Jianguo said. "Imports from BHP will likely be sustained," he said.

Coking coal imports by China, the world's largest steelmaking nation, surged five-fold last year after the government closed smaller unsafe mines. BHP last week won a 55 percent price increase from Japan's JFE Holdings Inc as the global economy picks up and Chinese purchases bolstered demand.