Jan-Sep energy output rises

China’s overall energy production increased 9% in the first nine months of the year, AFP reported, citing state media. Energy output from January to September totaled 2.01 billion tons of standard coal equivalent, according to statistics supplied by the National Energy Administration (NEA). This is the first time the NEA has published a comprehensive report on energy output. Analysts say the increase indicates that industrial position continues to gain steam in line with economic growth. The NEA forecasted that fourth-quarter output would continue to rise. However, other analysts question the metric’s relationship with industrial activity, pointing out that some of the largest energy consumers actually account for a small portion of industrial output.