China's tighter import controls bring Asia coal market to near standstill

摘要

China has brought the Asian thermal markets to a near standstill by ratcheting-up its import restrictions for the rest of 2018. Prices have cooled considerably as buying interest vanishes in the wake of the latest crackdown, which emerged in mid-November. Indonesian low-rank, sub-bituminous, and Australian high-ash have been hit hardest, with around $5/t shaved off the value of the prior since concerns started to emerge in early October.