Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been successfully produced from 10 typical Chinese caking-coals using an arc plasma technique. For comparison, one caking coal from New Zealand is also tested. The results show that all coals tested can be used to produce significant quantities of CNTs with fullerenes as by-products. The CNTs are examined using scanning electron microscope and high resolution transmission electron microscope. It has been found that the yields of CNTs are closely related to coal properties. The CNT yield increases as the fixed carbon content in coal increases or as the volatile matter content in coal decreases. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.