The coal price fell 5 percent on average in China recently, following rising trend in the past three years, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Tuesday.

In some ports, coal is even stockpiled, the report said.

"This phenomenon is only temporary," said Yue Fubin, a professor at the Postgraduate Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

He said that the price fluctuation is normal and does not mean the industry is facing a crisis.

China's power supply still cannot meet the demand and China has to increase coal supply if it wants to ensure power supply.

He predicted that the coal price will climb again as many new power plants are to go into operation in 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2005)