Weakness in South African coal prices persists
22 Aug 2014
August 22: Softness in European steam coal prices amidst indications of increased supplies from Colombia in the coming months forced South African coal prices to weaken further on August 21, market sources said.
Asian demand continued to remain lacklustre, thereby putting further pressure on South African varieties which had slipped to their lowest levels witnessed more than three years back, they added.
However, with softness witnessed in freight rates during the past couple of days, it is expected that South African coal prices would firm up in the coming days, they said.
Following are the indicative prices of coal in various markets and indicative freight rates on August 21:
Description of Coal |
Specification |
Price/ton (in $ and FOB) |
||||
As on, |
As on, |
Week ago, |
6-month ago, |
Year ago, |
||
August 21, 2014 |
August 20, 2014 |
August 15, 2014 |
February 21, 2014 |
August 21, 2013 |
||
South African Steam Coal |
6000 Kcal/kg NAR |
68.50 |
69.00 |
72.50 |
78.00 |
74.00 |
South African Steam Coal |
5500 Kcal/kg NAR |
62.25 |
62.25 |
62.70 |
63.50 |
64.50 |
Australian Steam Coal |
6300 Kcal/kg GAR |
68.25 |
68.25 |
68.70 |
78.00 |
77.75 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5900 Kcal/kg GAR |
63.60 |
63.75 |
63.60 |
70.00 |
69.00 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
5000 Kcal/kg GAR |
50.00 |
50.00 |
50.00 |
56.75 |
57.00 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
4200 Kcal/kg GAR |
36.50 |
36.50 |
36.25 |
38.00 |
41.35 |
Indonesian Steam Coal |
3800 Kcal/kg GAR |
30.00 |
30.00 |
29.80 |
32.00 |
35.60 |
Hard Coking Coal (Australian) |
VM-20.7%, Ash-10.5% |
112.00 |
112.00 |
113.00 |
125.00 |
146.00 |
Premium Low Vol |
VM-21.5%, Ash-9.3% |
111.00 |
111.00 |
111.50 |
123.00 |
144.50 |
Semi Soft |
|
74.50 |
74.00 |
74.25 |
87.00 |
97.00 |
Met Coke (CFR India) |
|
188.00 |
188.00 |
193.00 |
253.00 |
253.00 |
Freight rates:
Destination |
(in $/ton) |
||||
As on |
As on |
Week ago |
6-month ago |
Year ago |
|
August 21, 2014 |
August 20, 2014 |
August 15, 2014 |
February 21, 2014 |
August 22, 2013 |
|
South Africa (RBCT) to India (West Coast) |
15.75 |
17.40 |
16.25 |
16.50 |
14.25 |
South Africa (RBCT) to India (East Coast) |
16.25 |
17.90 |
16.75 |
17.00 |
14.75 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (West Coast) |
10.30 |
10.50 |
10.00 |
10.80 |
9.25 |
Indonesia (Kalimantan) to India (East Coast) |
9.20 |
9.40 |
8.75 |
9.60 |
8.00 |
Australia to India |
15.00 |
15.50 |
14.25 |
17.75 |
16.00 |
Source: Traders & ICMW data base