Abstract: A process and system is provided for briquetting particulate matter such as moisture-containing bituminous and sub-bituminous coal. This process includes partially drying the particulate matter and feeding, the partially dried particulate matter to a briquetting apparatus under conditions such that water vapour is released from the particulate matter during feeding. The particulate matter is passed through briquette forming rollers to form briquettes. The released water vapour substantially displaces or prevents the ingress of a large proportion of other gaseous components from the atmosphere surrounding an/or intermixed with the particulate matter.