The Chinese government may restrict coal imports to provincial-government approved ports from July 1. National-government approved ports will continue to operate. The move is designed to cut imports in aggregate and so protect domestic producers. It follows an earlier government request to importers to cut purchases by 10%, and sanctions against North Korean coal supplies. Panjiva analysis shows Chinese coal imports climbed 213% in the three months to May 31 on a year earlier. That is only explained in part by rising prices – volumes imported climbed 56% over the same period.