Met producers tormented by market as European buyers tormented by bad economy

摘要

For those US metallurgical coal suppliers looking to move their products to the traditional reliable overseas consumers, the task doesn't appear to be an enviable one this year. Still tormented by hard economic times that don't seem to be improving, European steelmakers have greatly reduced their coking coal imports so far in 2012. The uncertainty that persists as to when steel demand will rise and production levels increase, thereby triggering a need for more coal, has kept the country's consumers in a conservative purchasing mode.