Coal news and updates

US steam coal arrival continues despite port stockpile

To the delight of consumers, the arrival of US steam coal to India continues despite comparatively high stocks already lying at ports on the western coast, industry sources said.

“One more vessel from Adani Enterprises is likely to berth at Kandla Port towards the end of January,” the sources said.

The fresh arrivals amidst continuous decline in prices and not-so-encouraging demand has baffled some experts although it augurs well for consumers of such type of coal.

US coal that generally comes to India has extremely high heat value of about 7,300 Kcal/kg (NAR), but has high sulphur content of about 3.5-4%.

Because of high sulphur, only select consumers are in a position to use such coal.

As far as US coal, similar to other origin coal, is concerned, it is currently a consumers’ market, they said.

“The market for US coal in India at present is in very bad shape as almost all the big traders who had brought in huge quantities are struggling to sell their material,” the sources said.

The companies which had brought the cargo are currently selling the material either at cost price or at some losses and the situation is unlikely to change in the coming days, the sources claimed.