Marketer voices cautious optimism for 2004 Illinois Basin coal market

摘要

Market sources believe that the 2004 Illinois Basin coal market has significant upside potential assuming certain positive indicators bear out. "Everything I see tells me that next year could be a stand-out year," one Illinois Basin coalfield veteran told Platts Coal Outlook recently. "[The market] could really take off," the source continued, noting that even a 5 dollars/ton increase was not out of the realm of possibility. "I always doubt it's going that high because I don't think it will be as reactive as the Central Appalachian marketplace proves to be.. because you've got Indiana coal that can come in and the Illinois coal which can come in and offset things. "Nevertheless, I think there's at least a 1 dollar-2 dollars/ton upside next year," he predicted.