Producers hoping met market picks up even more steam as steam market expectations aren't being met

摘要

With steam coal prospects still pretty grim, a number of Eastern coal producers continue to look at creative ways to move longstanding thermal products into something that even vaguely resembles coking coal. Steelmakers are being forced to look at alternative blends since the tragedy at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine snatched from the market some of the best quality high-vol coal available, and the desperation among consumers has prompted non-traditional players to throw their hats in the ring in an effort to offer replacement coal at much higher margins than would have been possible in the thermal market.