US coke prices drop on coal lows

摘要

US Gulf fob prices slipped in September as historically low coal prices in several markets and strong freight rates pressed on demand. Few buyers needed an alternative to coal in a month where coal prices on the South African and Indonesian markets hit historic lows. Prices of Indonesian thermal coal are at their lowest in years, with high grade 6,500kcal/kg prices at $70/t, down more than 16pc since the start of 2014. The price of South African fob Richards Bay coal fell from $69.66/t on 1 September to a historic low of $65.01/t on 30 September.