Coal prices at Qinhuangdao Port, China's largest coal trans-shipment port, remained flat from Sept. 7-13, according to China Coal Transportation and Development Association (CCTDA) data.
Thermal power plants' efforts to increase stockpiles prevented domestic coal prices from falling further in the past three weeks, Qu Juan, a coal expert with the CCTDA, wrote in a research note on Friday.
Weak demand for the fuel on the back of lower economic growth however will continue to push coal prices downwards in the mid-term, said Qu.
Coal stockpiles at Qinhuangdao Port dropped to 6.82 million tons on Sept. 9 from 8.17 million tons on Aug. 5, according to CCTDA data.
Coal prices on September 7 and September 13, 2012 (RMB, ton)
Coal type
Heat value (Kcal/KG)
FOB price on Sept. 7
FOB price on Sept. 13
Datong premium blend
5,800
700 –710
700 –710
Shanxi premium blend
5,500
630 –640
630 –640
Shanxi blend
5,000
535 – 545
535 – 545
General blend
4,500
440 - 450
440 - 450