China  has  suspended all imports of anthracite coal from North Korea, starting February 19, 

according to a statement published by the country's ministry of commerce on its website last 

Saturday, a  move  which could provide support for prices of the steelmaking raw material in 

both domestic and export markets. 

In the statement, China's commerce ministry said that the suspension would be effective unt

il December 31 this year. 

The country imported 22.5 million mt of coal from North Korea in 2016, an increase of 14.5% 

from the year before, according to Chinese customs data.