Coal news and updates

South African June thermal coal exports drop 7% on-year to 4.6 million mt

South Africa exported 4.6 million mt of thermal coal during June, falling 7.1% on the year and dropping 31% from May's five-month high, according to customs data Monday.

The monthly volume was the lowest since Platts started receiving customs data in April 2014.

The year-on-year drop could be attributed to flagging exports to Europe and Turkey, while the month-on-month decrease was due to declining exports to India.

India remained the largest buyer of South African thermal coal during June, with exports to the country climbing 26% on the year, although shipments fell 25% from May.

During the first half of 2015, South Africa has exported 35.68 million mt of thermal coal, of which half -- 17.86 million mt -- has been shipped to India.

Monthly thermal coal exports to the whole of Europe plunged 80.5% from June 2014 and also fell 74.3% on the month to 158,199 mt, with no South African material shipped to the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and the UK, among others.

For the first time in 11 months, South Africa sent no thermal coal to Turkey, compared to 227,100 mt in May and 65,000 mt during the same month in 2014.

Exports to Pakistan slipped 16% on-year in June to 322,500 mt, but rose 3% from May's volume.

Shipments to the United Arab Emirates decreased 50% from June 2014 and 22% on the month to 104,000 mt, although exports to Israel climbed 11% from May to 166,5000 mt, which also compared to nothing during the same month in 2014.

There were no exports to China for the 10th consecutive month, compared to 164,999 mt in June 2014.

Spot FOB Richards Bay 6,000 kcal/kg NAR coal prices saw a steady decline during June as online trading platform globalCOAL implemented regulations mid-month limiting bids, offers and trades to increments of 25,000 mt to combat higher-priced non-standard bids and trades in volumes like 60,000 mt.

Platts' 7-45 day price assessment lost $3.85 from the beginning of the month to $59.15/mt FOB on June 30.

source: http://www.platts.com