BEIJING, Oct 13 (Reuters) - China's coal imports rose to a nine-month high in September as rising domestic prices made imported coal more competitive, but shipments remained below year-earlier levels, customs data showed on Monday.

Coal imports by China, the world's largest consumer of the fuel, totaled 46 million metric tons last month, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

However, last month's total was down from the previous September's then-record high of 47.59 million tons, which was driven by a decline in international prices. That record was surpassed in November, making September 2024 the second-highest month on record.

"The rapid rebound in domestic prices in the second half of the year has further widened the price gap between domestic and imported coal, making imported coal more competitive. This price advantage is the main driving force behind the swift recovery in import volumes," said Feng Dongbin, vice general manager at consultancy Fenwei Digital Information Technology.

Tightening supply helped to boost domestic prices. Inner Mongolia, China's largest coal-producing region, ordered 15 mines to close after they exceeded their allotted output.

China's hottest summer since temperature tracking started drove August thermal power generation, mostly from coal, to the highest since at least 1998.

For the first nine months of the year, China's coal imports fell 11% to 345.89 million tons, the data also showed.