ULAN BATOR, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's coal exports hit an all-time high in 2018, the country's finance ministry said Friday.

The landlocked Asian country exported a total of 36.5 million tons of coal in 2018, the ministry said in a statement.

The figure is an increase of 3.2 million tons from the previous year, the added the ministry.

The rise was largely attributable to Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh's first official visit to China in April since assuming office in 2017, according to the ministry.

Coal is Mongolia's main export commodity. The country has set a goal to increase coal exports to 40 million tons in the coming years.