Excess supplies soften international coal prices
11 Mar 2014
March 11: Spot prices of steam coal as well as coking coal softened further in the anticipation that an oversupply scenario would prevail in the market due to lower-than- expected growth in demand, said industry sources.
Australian steam coal prices slipped $2 per ton on a drop in enquiries from China.
Coking coal prices, on the other hand, slipped $3 per ton on March 10 over the March 7 levels. Incidentally, coking coal prices were down by $11 per ton to $112 per ton as compared $123 per ton quoted on February 25.
That the market is likely to be in oversupply mode over the next few months is taking a toll on prices, they added.
Following are the indicative prices of coal in various markets and indicative freight rates on March 10:
Description of Coal |
Specification |
Price/ton (in $ and FOB) |
||||
As on, |
As on, |
Week ago, |
6-month ago, |
Year ago, |
||
South African Steam Coal |
6000 Kcal/kg NAR |
75.10 |
75.75 |
75.75 |
70.70 |
83.75 |
South African Steam Coal |
5500 Kcal/kg NAR |
62.25 |
62.70 |
64.10 |
62.30 |
- |
Australian Steam Coal |
6300 Kcal/kg GAR |
73.00 |
75.00 |
77.50 |
76.25 |
90.75 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5900 Kcal/kg GAR |
69.70 |
69.70 |
70.00 |
68.40 |
76.40 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5000 Kcal/kg GAR |
56.00 |
56.20 |
56.25 |
56.25 |
60.90 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
4200 Kcal/kg GAR |
38.00 |
38.10 |
38.20 |
40.00 |
41.80 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
3800 Kcal/kg GAR |
32.25 |
32.25 |
32.25 |
34.00 |
35.40 |
Hard Coking Coal (Australian) |
VM-20.7%, Ash-10.5% |
112.00 |
115.00 |
121.00 |
154.00 |
164.50 |
Premium Low Vol |
VM-21.5%, Ash-9.3% |
110.50 |
113.50 |
119.00 |
152.00 |
164.00 |
Semi Soft |
83.25 |
83.50 |
84.00 |
99.00 |
115.00 |
|
Met Coke (CFR India) |
240.00 |
240.00 |
246.00 |
262.00 |
302.00 |
Freight Rates:
Destination |
(in $/ton) |
||||
As on |
As on |
Week ago, |
6-month ago, |
Year ago, |
|
South Africa (RBCT) to India (West Coast) |
17.40 |
16.25 |
16.60 |
15.25 |
15.90 |
South Africa (RBCT) to India (East Coast) |
17.70 |
16.75 |
17.10 |
15.75 |
16.90 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (West Coast) |
10.80 |
10.40 |
11.10 |
10.75 |
10.90 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (East Coast) |
9.80 |
9.25 |
9.60 |
9.50 |
9.70 |
Australia to India |
17.25 |
17.00 |
17.50 |
17.00 |
16.00 |