The "2024 Annual Report on the Development of the Coal Industry" recently released by the China Coal Industry Association shows that since the 14th Five Year Plan, the ability to guarantee coal supply and the comprehensive strength of the industry have steadily improved, and the focus of coal production has accelerated its shift to the central and western regions. In 2024, the raw coal production of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang provinces (regions) will reach 3.9 billion tons, accounting for 81.6% of the national total and an increase of 3.4 percentage points compared to 2020. Since the 14th Five Year Plan, Xinjiang has accelerated the construction of large-scale coal bases and released advanced production capacity. In 2024, coal production exceeded 500 million tons for the first time, and the "Xinjiang Coal Export" exceeded 130 million tons. The construction of the five major coal supply guarantee bases in Shanxi, western Inner Mongolia, eastern Inner Mongolia, northern Shaanxi, and Xinjiang has been accelerated, and the national coal production and development layout has basically formed a cascade development pattern in the east, central, and western regions. Since the 14th Five Year Plan, the production structure of the coal industry has been continuously optimized. Guo Zhonghua, Director of the Policy Research Department of China Coal Industry Association, introduced that the number of coal mines in the country has decreased from more than 4600 to less than 4300. Among them, large-scale modern coal mines with an annual output of over 1.2 million tons have become the main producers of coal. Based on the comprehensive analysis of this year's coal market trend, the report predicts that the supply and demand of the coal market will show a relatively balanced and relaxed operating trend throughout the year. (New Society)