China, the world's largest coal consumer, has been grappling with a growing energy crisis brought on by shortages and record high prices for the fuel. The government has taken a range of steps to boost coal production and manage electricity demand at industrial plants, while power producers and other coal users have been ramping up imports.

The OECD warned Tuesday of an "uneven" global economic recovery as it lowered its 2021 growth forecasts for the world and the United States while raising the outlook for Europe.

The global economy started to gradually recover in the first half of 2021 from the COVID-19 pandemic-led recession in 2020 as vaccinations began to be distributed across the world, albeit unevenly.

Yet banks still face many challenges, especially from the economic impacts of stricter social restrictions to curb the spread of the more infectious COVID-19 variant, the Delta.