U.S. coking coal negotiations with European steelmakers

摘要

U.S. met coal contracts with European and Brazilian steel mills should begin falling in place by mid-month with "everything tied up in a neat little bow by April," sources tell Coal Americas. U.S. producers are said to be pushing for prices in the 106.00 US dollars to 110.00 US dollars/tonne FOB range. Of course, buyers on the other hand, prefer that U.S. suppliers step in line with BHP Billiton's 98.00 US dollars/tonne settlement in Japan. "I could be wrong, but I don't think any good quality U.S. met coal will be sold below 100.00 US dollars (per tonne) in 2007," a source said. As negotiations enter the home stretch, it would appear that U.S. exporters have several strategic leverage points.