China's coal industry loses steam as demand from end-users falters

Slower growth and loss of market share dampened China's coal demand in 2014, according to a prominent industry review.

The annual statistical review of world energy, which has just been released by Britain-based energy giant BP Plc, indicated that China's coal output decreased 2.6 percent last year, the weakest performance since 1998.

Globally, coal production fell by 0.7 percent in 2014, with China registering the largest decline, according to the review.