Hard met coal negotiations: Suppliers push for rollover, steel mills expect lower prices in 2006

摘要

Negotiations for hard met coal in Asia and Japan are expected to take a serious turn later this month, sources tell Coal Americas. Australian and Canadian exporters, including the major players like BHP Biliiton and Elk Valley Coal, visited Tokyo in December, but neither the exporters or steel mills are in a hurry to settle. The same can be said for European negotiations. "We've heard that the Japanese steel mills will resume talks with suppliers January 16," an Australian coal official said. "As for Europe, it could be February before some business gets done there."