Coal at a mine in northern Quang Ninh Province. Coal consumption is forecast to drop significantly this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Trong Dat

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— The Viet Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) is expected to produce only 39 million tonnes of coal this year, a significant drop of 4 million tonnes.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade released the sales figures, 9.3 per cent lower than targeted, which will come as a slight disappointment to the mining giant.

About 10.5 million tonnes of the total coal was for export and 28.5 million tonnes consumed domestically. Last month saw the lowest coal consumption this year with 2.1 million tones, only 0.25 million of which were for export.

Vinacomin expects to earn VND97.9 trillion (US$4.64 billion) this year, meeting 93.8 per cent of the yearly target. Its coal operations will generate VND53.4 trillion of the total.

Despite the drop in coal consumption, the corporation is still set to make a targeted profit of VND2.5 trillion on coal, aiding Vinacomin's VND10.78 trillion contribution to the State budget.

Vinacomin said the low figure was due to higher export tax rates of 13 per cent being applied from July 7. It was forced to halt its coal exports as its costs were almost equal to export prices.

The group last week proposed lowering coal export taxes to 10 per cent in order to lift coal consumption by the end of the year.

At a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in coal mining Quang Ninh Province, Tran Xuan Hoa, Vinacomin's Members Council chairman declared that the move was essential to halt declining coal sales.— VNS