Continuation of firm trend in international markets
01 Apr 2016
A continuation of the firm trend was seen in international coal markets on March 31. Even the Indonesian medium grade firmed up on restricted offering by miners and traders, sources said.
While continued firmness was witnessed in South African and Australian steam coal prices, tracking the trend in futures indices, Indonesian coal prices moved both ways with some varieties moving down with others turning soft, they said.
Recent rains in Indonesia prompted traders to reduce their offering and that caused some firmness even though not many deals were concluded at higher prices, they said.
Following are indicative prices of coal in various markets and indicative freight rates (Panamax vessels) on March 31:
Description of Coal |
Specification |
Price/ton (in $ and FOB) |
||||
As on, |
As on, |
Week ago, |
6-month ago, |
Year ago, |
||
March 31, 2016 |
March 30, 2016 |
March 24, 2016 |
October 2, 2015 |
April 1, 2015 |
||
South African Steam Coal |
6000 Kcal/kg NAR |
54.75 |
54.00 |
- |
- |
58.90 |
South African Steam Coal |
5500 Kcal/kg NAR |
44.80 |
44.50 |
- |
- |
51.00 |
Australian Steam Coal |
6300 Kcal/kg GAR |
54.50 |
54.25 |
- |
- |
55.50 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5900 Kcal/kg GAR |
45.25 |
45.80 |
- |
- |
59.75 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5000 Kcal/kg GAR |
37.50 |
37.20 |
- |
- |
47.00 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
4200 Kcal/kg GAR |
26.30 |
26.20 |
- |
- |
33.50 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
3800 Kcal/kg GAR |
20..50 |
20.60 |
- |
- |
26.90 |
Hard Coking Coal (Australian) |
VM-20.7%, Ash-10.5% |
82.50 |
81.40 |
- |
- |
96.00 |
Premium Low Vol |
VM-21.5%, Ash-9.3% |
81.50 |
80.40 |
- |
- |
95.00 |
Semi Soft |
|
65.30 |
65.20 |
- |
- |
74.25 |
Met Coke (CFR India) |
CSR 62 |
122.00 |
119.50 |
- |
- |
175.00 |
Freight rates:
Destination |
(in $/ton) |
||||
As on |
As on |
Week ago, |
6-month ago, |
Year ago, |
|
March 31, 2016 |
March 30, 2016 |
March 24, 2016 |
October 2, 2015 |
April 1, 2015 |
|
South Africa (RBCT) to India (West Coast) |
6.20 |
6.20 |
- |
- |
9.30 |
South Africa (RBCT) to India (East Coast) |
6.50 |
6.50 |
- |
- |
9.40 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (West Coast) |
4.70 |
4.70 |
- |
- |
6.20 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (East Coast) |
4.00 |
4.00 |
- |
- |
5.20 |
Australia to India |
6.55 |
6.70 |
- |
- |
9.75 |
Source: Traders and ICMW database