China Shenhua Energy Co Ltd , China’s largest coal producer, reported a 52 percent rise in its fourth-quarter net profit, in line with expectations, thanks to increased sales volume and higher domestic coal prices.

Its Oct-Dec net profit reached 8.65 billion yuan ($1.32 billion) versus 5.7 billion a year earlier, based on Reuters’ calculation using the company’s announced full-year figures.

The fourth-quarter earnings were largely in line with consensus forecast of 8.8 billion yuan.

For the full year, Shenhua’s net profit totalled 38.1 billion yuan, versus 31.7 billion yuan in 2009, its highest annual net profit since listing in Hong Kong in 2005.

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