KIEV, July 4 - Ukraine increased coal production by 5.2% year-on-year to 42.799 million tons in the first half of 2012.

Production of coking coal slumped 1% to 12.649 million tons, while production of thermal coal grew 8% to 30.151 million tons, the Energy and Coal Ministry told Interfax-Ukraine.

However, mines controlled by the Energy and Coal Ministry reduced coal production by 36.8% to 12.119 million tons in the first half, with production of coking coal dropping 7.6% to 3.523 million tons and production of thermal coal plunging 44% to 8.597 million tons.