Coal Stockpiles at China main ports rebound to 13 million tonnes

Wednesday, 23 Nov 2011

Coal inventories at the four major harbors around Bohai Sea increased to 13.877 million tonnes due to severe weather in the week ending November 20 up by 16.11% or 1.926 million tonnes marking the highest growth at record.

Coal Stocks at Major Ports around Bohai Sea during November 14 to 20 2011

Port	Coal Stocks	Up/Down	Growth%
Qinhuangdao port	687	104.7	17.98
Jingtang port	226	36	18.94
SDIC Caofeidian port	240	35	17.07
Tianjin port	234.7	16.9	7.75

(In 10,000 tonnes)

Industry sources said that coal stocks at the four ports will fall slightly once weather turns better and thermal coal prices are expected to edge down accordingly.

(source: steelhome.cn/en)

China Bohai thermal coal prices see first drop in two months

Friday, Nov18, 2011

Thermal coal prices at major ports around Bohai Sea headed down for the first time since September 7.
The latest Bohai-Rim Steam-Coal Price Index or BSPI indicates that the average price of thermal coal with calorific value of 5500 kilocalories per kilogram dropped by CNY 1 per tonne to CNY 852 per tonne in the week ending November 16.

Industry sources reported that the price showed continuous rise from early September to late October and kept flat for three weeks in a row thereafter. At Qinhuangdao port, the price of 4500 kilocalories per kilogram and 5500 kilocalories per kilogram thermal coal was down CNY 5 per tonne from a week earlier to CNY 645 per tonne to CNY 655 per tonne and CNY 845 per tonne to CNY 855 per tonne respectively, the first drop in several weeks, and that of 5000 kilocalories per kilogram and 5800 kilocalories per kilogram reached CNY 745 per tonne to CNY 755 per tonne and CNY 900 per tonne to CNY 910 per tonne.

Analysts said that the sharp decline in coal inventories at Qinhuangdao port, caused by the overhaul of Daqin railway, triggered growing concerns about coal supply at China main ports and pushed up coal prices. After the rail line resumed full operations, coal stockpiles at the ports recovered and alleviated coal supply tension, which as a result cooled down coal prices. What’s more, China key power plants currently have high stock level, sufficient for 20 days of consumption.

(source: steelhome.cn/en)

China Bohai Thermal coal prices hit all time high

Friday, 04 Nov 2011

It is reported that the latest Bohai-Rim Steam-Coal Price Index or BSPI indicates that the average price of thermal coal with calorific value of 5500 kilocalories per kilogram reached an all-time high of CNY 853 per tonne in the week ending October 26.

The price was up CNY 6 per tonne or 0.71%t from a week earlier and an increase of CNY 28 per tonne compared with September 7 when a rebound was seen after nine consecutive weeks’ fall.

At Qinhuangdao port, the price of 5500 kilocalories per kilogram and 5800 kilocalories per kilogram thermal coal was up CNY 5 per tonne to CNY 850 per tonne to CNY 860 per tonne and CNY 900 per tonne to CNY 910 per tonne respectively compared with the previous week while that of 4500 kilocalories per kilogram and 5000 kilocalories per kilogram thermal coal kept stable at CNY 650 per tonne to CNY 660 per tonne and CNY 745 per tonne to CNY 755 per tonne.

In China's main coal-producing regions, such as Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, coal prices have remained stable after previous weeks upswing. Coal prices in these two regions have perched high for several weeks on speculation that China may face another round of power shortage in the coming winter. And the tough coal transport capacity may be one of the main reasons to bolster up the price.

(source: steelhome.cn/en)

Coal stockpiles at Qinhuangdao Port decrease significantly

Friday, 16 Sep 2011

Coal shipment at Qinhuangdao port, China top coal loading port increased by 9.27% or 458,000 tonnes from a week earlier to 5.508 million tonnes in the week from September 5 to September 11 averaging 786,900 tonnes per day.

Coal handling at the port has witnessed a sharp rise of nearly 1.76 million tonnes within five weeks on the back of stronger demand before overhaul of Daqin railway starts.

In the week, coal haulage to the port via railway registered 4.904 million tonnes, a drop of 5.02% or 259,000 tonnes from the prior week, averaging 700,600 tonnes per day. This marks the end of three consecutive weeks’ increase in coal deliveries to the port.

Up to September 10, coal stockpiles at the port fell by more than 8% or 604,000 tonnes to 6.676 million tonnes. Thermal coal prices at major ports around Bohai Sea headed up after 9 consecutive weeks' fall. The latest Bohai-Rim Steam-Coal Price Index, or BSPI, indicates that the price of thermal coal with calorific value of 5500 Kcal/kg averaged at CNY 826 per tonne up 0.12% or CNY 1 per tonne from a week earlier.

(source steelhome)

China thermal coal price stable despite sea ice and int’l price hike

Jan 28, 2011

China's benchmark thermal coal price remained stable during January 19 to January 25 despite of the turbulence of sea ice and international price hike.
According to statistics released by Ocean Shipping Coal, China's benchmark thermal coal price averaged 774 yuan/tonne, up only one yuan from previous week. China's coal price remains in a downward trend which began since Dec 8 of 2010.
By January 16, the free on board (FOB) price for power coal at New Castle Port in Australia has jumped 4.9% on week to US$1 36.3/tonne, and that of coking coal up 5.7% to US$280/tonne.
Bohai has been covered by ice, which is supposed to block coal imports of China and further push up domestic coal price.
However, the international coal price hike and the bad weather seemed to pose little impact in China's domestic coal price.
The stability in coal price in China despite of international price hike is mainly attributed to smooth throughput at major ports in north China, which has effectively guaranteed stable coal supply to south China.

Experts forecast that coal supply and demand in coastal market will maintain flourish until the Chinese Spring Festival in February, and power plants would have stable coal supply if the weather will not deteriorate into a substantial hinder to disrupt coal transportation from northern coal producing provinces to major coal consumers in the south.

But considering the approaching of Chinese Spring Festival on February 3, China may have to face mounting transportation in railways, which may affect coal transportation. Therefore, insiders predicted that China's coal price is very likely to maintain at high level and grow up further in February. (sourced:Xinhua)