Met buyers might get price kiss, but it ain't likely to be passionate

摘要

Metallurgical coal buyers might be a little too optimistic if they expect to sign contracts for less than a triple-digit figure, according to a source who says steelmakers are looking for 2007 term bargains they aren't likely to get. "There have been predictions that the worldwide price in a vessel on a metric tonne basis will be below 100.00 dollars," the source said. "I don't think we are that weak yet. Those predictions are based on China and India not taking as much coal as people expected, but 1 still don't see it. I think that is wishful thinking. "We could get into the low 100.00s dollars, maybe drop another 10.00 dollars in price for settlements next year, but I don't think it will go below that. Steel demand is such that, yes, price will soften a little bit, but not by that much."