** Coal miners in Australia gain after China imports record coal in January-February

** Top coal consumer China posted 2.1% y/y rise in imports to a record high of 76.12 million tons for January-February, boosting sentiment surrounding the commodity

** Shares of Whitehaven Coal WHC.AX, Australia's top independent coal miner, rise as much as 3.5% to A$5.9, their highest level since February 21; last up 3.1%

** Shares of Coronado Global Resources CRN.AX gain as much as 1.9%, most since February 24

** New Hope Corporation NHC.AX gains 0.8%

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com;))