Chinese coal imports rose 76% in September as power plants searched for fuel during the energy crisis. As a result, coal prices rose to record highs and caused business disruptions. The world’s second-largest economy experienced major flooding in a coal producing province, causing supplies to drop even more during an already tense energy crunch. As the world’s largest coal consumer, Chinese regulators recently allowed power companies to pass on increased prices to customers, leading to further worry about global inflation. Even so, China’s state planner said the government plans to collect coal and energy supplies for the winter so that climate change targets are met.