Dull trend prevails in international coal markets
25 Mar 2014
March 25: A dull trend prevailed in international coal markets on March 24 amidst limited deals, industry sources said.
Indian interest in Indonesian coal was too keen while Chinese buying interest too was not that encouraging either, they added.
The current trend is expected to last at least till the end of March as the financial year comes to a close, the sources said.
Many companies go slow in terms of increasing their exposure to coal towards the end of financial year in order to maintain a healthy cash flow or bank balance, they added.
Following are the indicative prices of coal in various markets and indicative freight rates on March 24:
Description of Coal |
Specification |
Price/ton (in $ and FOB) |
||||
As on March 24, 2014 |
As on March 21, 2014 |
Week ago March 17, 2014 |
6-month ago September 25, 2013 |
Year ago March 25, 2013 |
||
South African Steam Coal |
6000 Kcal/kg NAR |
75.25 |
75.50 |
76.50 |
74.50 |
80.80 |
South African Steam Coal |
5500 Kcal/kg NAR |
65.10 |
65.15 |
62.30 |
60.50 |
- |
Australian Steam Coal |
6300 Kcal/kg GAR |
73.25 |
72.75 |
73.80 |
77.80 |
93.50 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5900 Kcal/kg GAR |
68.80 |
69.00 |
69.30 |
68.25 |
75.70 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5000 Kcal/kg GAR |
55.00 |
55.00 |
55.50 |
56.00 |
60.10 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
4200 Kcal/kg GAR |
37.00 |
37.00 |
37.25 |
39.60 |
41.80 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
3800 Kcal/kg GAR |
32.10 |
32.10 |
32.00 |
33.80 |
35.60 |
Hard Coking Coal (Australian) |
VM-20.7%, Ash-10.5% |
108.00 |
108.00 |
107.00 |
152.00 |
156.50 |
Premium Low Vol |
VM-21.5%, Ash-9.3% |
107.00 |
107.00 |
106.00 |
150.00 |
155.00 |
Semi Soft |
78.00 |
78.00 |
81.00 |
97.50 |
112.50 |
|
Met Coke (CFR India) |
218.00 |
218.00 |
240.00 |
270.00 |
296.00 |
Freight rates:
Destination |
(in $/ton) |
||||
As on March 24, 2014 |
As on March 21, 2014 |
Week ago March 17, 2014 |
6-month ago September 25, 2013 |
Year ago March 25, 2013 |
|
South Africa (RBCT) to India (West Coast) |
17.10 |
17.00 |
17.50 |
17.20 |
16.20 |
South Africa (RBCT) to India (East Coast) |
17.40 |
17.40 |
18.00 |
17.80 |
17.20 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (West Coast) |
10.80 |
11.00 |
11.00 |
12.60 |
10.95 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (East Coast) |
9.75 |
9.75 |
10.00 |
11.25 |
9.90 |
Australia to India |
17.75 |
17.75 |
18.00 |
19.00 |
17.50 |
Source: Traders & ICMW data base