Flat trend in international coal prices
31 Mar 2014
March 31: Spot prices of seaborne coal showed a flat trend in the international markets on March 28 amid lukewarm demand and limited enquiries from key markets, industry sources said.
There was hardly any movement in South African coal prices from the previous close. Australian coal (6,300 GAR) prices, however, firmed up marginally during the day even though traders expected prices to bottom out further this week. Reports said GlencoreXstrata has agreed to a 14% price cut in the Japan market for steam coal shipped from Australia.
Spot coking coal prices also moved sideways on March 28, but are likely to see further downslide, going ahead, the sources said.
Following are the indicative prices of coal in various markets and indicative freight rates on March 28:
Description of Coal |
Specification |
Price/ton (in $ and FOB) |
||||
As on March 28, 2014 |
As on March 27, 2014 |
Week ago March 21, 2014 |
6-month ago September 30, 2013 |
Year ago April 1, 2013 |
||
South African Steam Coal |
6000 Kcal/kg NAR |
73.25 |
73.25 |
75.50 |
76.00 |
79.70 |
South African Steam Coal |
5500 Kcal/kg NAR |
64.80 |
64.80 |
65.15 |
60.25 |
- |
Australian Steam Coal |
6300 Kcal/kg GAR |
74.50 |
74.25 |
72.75 |
78.00 |
89.80 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5900 Kcal/kg GAR |
68.30 |
68.60 |
69.00 |
68.00 |
75.80 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5000 Kcal/kg GAR |
54.50 |
54.80 |
55.00 |
55.50 |
59.80 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
4200 Kcal/kg GAR |
37.30 |
37.30 |
37.00 |
39.30 |
41.90 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
3800 Kcal/kg GAR |
32.25 |
32.25 |
32.10 |
33.75 |
35.90 |
Hard Coking Coal (Australian) |
VM-20.7%, Ash-10.5% |
109.00 |
109.00 |
108.00 |
150.00 |
154.50 |
Premium Low Vol |
VM-21.5%, Ash-9.3% |
107.50 |
107.50 |
107.00 |
148.00 |
154.00 |
Semi Soft |
|
79.50 |
79.50 |
78.00 |
97.25 |
112.00 |
Met Coke (CFR India) |
|
212.00 |
212.00 |
218.00 |
268.00 |
294.00 |
Freight rates:
Destination |
(in $/ton) |
||||
As on March 28, 2014 |
As on March 27, 2014 |
Week ago March 21, 2014 |
6-month ago September 30, 2013 |
Year ago April 1, 2013 |
|
South Africa (RBCT) to India (West Coast) |
16.70 |
16.70 |
17.00 |
17.40 |
16.00 |
South Africa (RBCT) to India (East Coast) |
17.10 |
17.10 |
17.40 |
18.00 |
17.00 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (West Coast) |
10.50 |
10.60 |
11.00 |
12.90 |
10.90 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (East Coast) |
9.20 |
9.20 |
9.75 |
11.50 |
9.90 |
Australia to India |
17.50 |
17.50 |
17.75 |
20.50 |
17.50 |
Source: Traders & ICMW data base