Market still holding strong

摘要

As the international coal industry meets for its annual get-together at the Coaltrans conference in Barcelona, the Atlantic coal market is still strong as pricing from both South African and Colombian producers remains at over US$60.00/t FOBT. Consumers are being forced to pay almost double the prices that were negotiated for Colombian coal for shipment in the fourth quarter of last year. The increase in coal prices is clearly being driven more by strong demand in Europe and the US than by any reduction in export volumes from South Africa and Colombia. With many buyers now looking to cover their first quarter needs for next year, coal producers and marketers attending Coaltrans will be arriving optimistic about the results of their annual negotiations.