China, the world's top steelmaker and coal consumer, cut 97 million tonnes of coal capacity and 42.4 million tonnes of steel capacity by end-May, the state planner said on Thursday, as part efforts to tackle pollution and curb excess supply.

The capacity reduction is 65 percent of China's targeted cuts for coal and 85 percent for steel in 2017, spokeswoman Meng Wei of the National Development and Reform Commission said at a regular briefing.

In March, the state planner pledged to cut 50 million tonnes of steel and more than 150 million tonnes of coal capacity this year.

Source:af.reuters.com