Australian thermal coal price up in quiet market

Saturday, 31 Dec 2011

Reuters reported that Australia thermal coal price benchmark rose to over USD 116 per tonne in thin year-end holiday trading with near-term supply out of Newcastle, Australia largest thermal coal port, still tight.

Thermal coal on the global COAL Newcastle index for the week to date closed at USD 116.13 per tonne on Thursday up from USD 111.90 per tonne a week earlier. Wet weather and delayed maintenance schedules in the Hunter Valley, Australia main thermal coal producing region has kept supplies for early next year tight and supported prices.

The ongoing closure of the Orica explosives plant that supplies many Australian thermal coal miners has also constrained coal production. Orica explosives plant which supplies major coal miners in the area has been offline for several weeks, but the company is expected to restart the plant in the New Year after pre-start tests this week.

In China, the domestic coal price benchmark fell to CNY 808 per tonne last week from CNY 821 the previous week.

(Sourced from Reuters)

Coal, Australian thermal coal Daily Price

August13,2011

Coal, Australian thermal coal, 12000- btu/pound, less than 1% sulfur, 14% ash, FOB
Newcastle/Port Kembla, US$ per metric tonne
As of: Friday, August 12, 2011

Month Price Change
Jan 2011 141.94 -
Feb 2011 137.53 -3.11 %
Mar 2011 135.14 -1.74 %
Apr 2011 131.25 -2.88 %
May 2011 126.84 -3.36 %
Jun 2011 127.80 0.76 %
Jul 2011 128.57 0.60 %

Source: globalCOAL

Steam coal price at Newcastle climbs to US$ 136 as on Friday, January 14, 2011

Steam coal prices at Australia’s Newcastle port, an Asian benchmark, rose by 4.9% in the week.
According to the globalCOAL NEWC Index, steam coal prices at the New South Wales port climbed to USD 136.30 per tonne from USD 129.90 per tonne in the previous week.
Coal, Australian thermal coal, 12000- btu/pound, less than 1% sulfur, 14% ash, FOB Newcastle/Port Kembla, US$ per metric tonneAs of: Friday, January 14, 2011
Source: globalCOAL