NEA Press Conference on the Q1 2025 Energy Situation

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At a press conference, the National Energy Administration reviewed China’s energy situation for the first quarter. Overall, energy supply was ample, consumption continued to grow, supply and demand remained generally relaxed, prices stayed stable with a slight downward trend, and both energy production and electricity‐use growth showed positive signals. The main highlights were:

 

1．Steady growth in energy production; faster gains in March.

  • In Q1, raw coal output at large‐scale industrial enterprises reached 1.20 billion tonnes, up 8.1% year-on-year; in March it rose 9.6%, with daily output exceeding 14 million tonnes.
  • Crude oil production by those enterprises was 54.09 million tonnes in Q1, up 1.1%; March output was up 3.5%.
  • Natural gas production hit 66 billion cubic metres in Q1, up 4.3%; March rose 5.0%.
  • Total installed power‐generation capacity reached 3.43 billion kW by end-Q1, up 14.6%; March electricity generation growth at large enterprises accelerated by 3.1 percentage points over January–February.

 

2．Rapid expansion of non-fossil capacity; cleaner consumption mix.

  • By end-March, wind and solar PV capacity grew 17.2% and 43.4% year-on-year, respectively—together for the first time exceeding thermal capacity.
  • Hydropower and nuclear capacity reached 438 million kW and 61 million kW, up 3.3% and 6.9%.
  • Non-fossil capacity’s share rose by 4.3 percentage points year-on-year; preliminary estimates show non-fossil energy’s share of consumption up 1.5 points.

 

3．Continued rise in consumption; noticeable rebound in March electricity use.

  • Total electricity consumption was 2.38 trillion kWh in Q1, up 2.5% year-on-year; March alone was up 4.8%.
  • Natural gas demand kept growing, with strong gains in power-generation gas use.
  • A warm winter and higher output from renewables dampened coal demand.
  • Gasoline and diesel consumption fell further; kerosene edged up slightly.

 

4．Stable-to-lower prices; brisk investment growth.

  • Spot prices for thermal coal eased continuously; long-term contract prices declined more slowly. As of March 31, the Bohai-ring port spot price for 5,500 kcal coal was RMB 676 / t, down RMB 165 / t year-on-year; Brent futures averaged USD 74.7 / bbl, down USD 7.
  • In Q1, energy investment remained robust: in January–February, investment in key energy projects rose 12.9% year-on-year, with rapid growth in offshore wind, new energy storage, grid and nuclear projects.