Some of the local customs departments in China have refused to grant clearance on imported coal with more than 1% sulphur, although the central government hasn’t announced to do so publically.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> The restrictions are implemented not only to some coastal ports, but also to several inland ports along the Yangtze River, said one trader based in Dalian, northeastern China.<br /> <br /> "Presently, only the sulphur content is targeted; there’s no caps on the ash content and calorific value," the trader added.<br /> <br /> The Chinese government has been mulling over capping imports of low-grade coal, but so far has not released any policies officially, according to Shi Yubo, vice director of the National Energy Administration, who said relevant measures are still under discussion and yet to be finalized.<br /> <br /> Effective May 28, the customs department of southeastern China’s Fujian province started to reject the imported lignite with calorific value below 3,946 Kcal/kg, ash above 20% and sulphur over 1%, and other coals with calorific value below 4,300 Kcal/kg and ash and sulphur contents above 30% and 2%, respectively.<br /> <br /> In an industry forum held late last week, Wang Xianzheng, chairman of China National Coal Association, also proposed that the government should look to curb imports of coal with sulphur above 1% and ash above 16%.<br /> <br /> <p> Customs data showed that China imported a total of 160 million tonnes of coal in the first half of the year, increasing 0.9% year on year, with the average value at $75.36/t, a drop of 15.4% from the year before. </p> <p style="text-align:center;"> <img src="/upfiles/news/image/20140730/20140730171430_3858.jpg" alt="" /> </p>