China's power output down 3.5% in May

China's power production fell 3.5 percent in May from a year earlier, but was flat from the previous month, after April's year-on-year decline of around 3.6 percent.

China's power production fell 3.5 percent in May from a year earlier, but was flat from the previous month, after April's year-on-year decline of around 3.6 percent.

Figures from the State Grid show that the national electricity output in May hit nearly 290 billion kilowatt hours. But the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shandong still saw negative growth. And Shanxi, Qinghai and Ningxia even maintained their double-digit annual declines.

Experts say the May figures show that the trend of sharp drops in power output has been curbed, with the output volume beginning to bottom out. But they add it will take some time for it to get back up to speed.

Experts also predict that the first half of the year will see negative growth. But power demand is likely to increase nationwide in the third quarter, especially in coastal areas.