Bloomberg reported that China benchmark coal prices climbed for a fifth straight week as users started to build stockpiles before peak summer demand.

According to data from the China Coal Transport and Distribution Association, the price of coal with an energy value of 5,500 kilocalories per kilogram rose 2% at Qinhuangdao, the country largest port for the fuel, in the week to May 17th. Coal was sold for CNY 755 per tonne to CNY 765 per tonne.

The data showed thermal coal stockpiles at Qinhuangdao stood at 4.88 million tonnes as of May 7th. Inventories had fallen 44 percent between March 19th and April 30th.

China eastern province of Shandong has ordered power plants to increase coal stockpiles to 30 days of consumption from 15 days before summer.