Viet Nam exported more than 13.5 million tonnes of coal in the first seven months of this year, equal to the same period last year, sources said.

Buyers were primarily China, Japan, Thailand, India, Malaysia, South Korea and Europe, said Tran Xuan Hoa, general director of the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group.

Local consumption was 10.98 million tonnes, also equal to the same period last year.

Hoa also said that coal for both domestic consumption and export earned Vinacomin more than VND20 trillion (US$1.1 billion), of which VND12 trillion ($667 million) was from exports.

Vinacomin plans to export 3 million tonnes of coal this year.

Despite its estimated 42 billion tonnes of coal reserves, the company is struggling to cater for steeply rising domestic energy demand of 17-20 per cent a year and plans to lower its export target.