Thermal coal prices further picked up in China in early July, as the high demand season kicks in with more power demand for air-conditioning use and import curbs remain stringent.
From July 1 to July 10, price of the most-traded Shanxi 5,500 Kcal/kg NAR premium mixed coal was at 538.8 yuan/t, rising 3.8 yuan/t from ten days ago, showed data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on July 14.
Price of 4,500 Kcal/kg NAR Shanxi mixed coal increased 3.8 yuan/t from the previous ten days to 438.8 yuan/t; that of 5,000 Kcal/kg Shanxi mixed coal and 5,800 Kcal/kg NAR mixed coal mined in Datong of Shanxi both expanded by 3.8 yuan/t to 438.8 yuan/t and 568.8 yuan/t respectively.
As for primary coking coal with sulfur below 1%, price leveled off from ten days ago at 1,270 yuan/t over July 1-10. Wait-and-see atmosphere prevailed in coking coal market, as to what extent coke price would be cut remains to be seen. So far two rounds of 100 yuan/t reduction has occurred as well-stocked steel mills scaled back purchases.
Anthracite was the only coal type that posted decline, down by 22.5 yuan/t to 877.5 yuan/t for washed mid lump over the first ten days of this month.
(Writing by Jessie Jia Editing by Harry Huo)
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