Coking coal prices expected to decline in first half of next year

摘要

The price of hard coking coal is expected to decline from current levels during the first half of 2012, as global supply and demand comes more into balance."Unless Australia has more flooding in Queensland or some other major production problems arise around the world, supply and demand should befairly balanced," a trading source told Coal Americas.The current quarterly price of US$285.00/tonne FOB could be waving in the rear view mirror for quite a while."Most people that I talk to expect the contract price forthe first quarter hard coking coal to be in the US$240.00to US$250.00 tonne range. From there, the price is expected to fall to US$220.00 to US$230.00 tonne for the second quarter of next year."