China’s coal slump
China’s Qinhuangdao port index for thermal coal (of 5500 kilocalories per kilogram energy value) has fallen to 435-450 yuan per tonne ($US71.6-72.4/t) as of Sunday according to Chinese transport data.
This price range, a fall from 445-460 yuan/t in the previous week, is considered the lowest price since July 9, 2007 according to Bloomberg.
Anglo strike
Anglo American is negotiating with the National Union of Mineworkers to end an illegal strike at the Kleinkopje thermal coal mine in South Africa.
An Anglo spokesman told Bloomberg there had been no production since April 7.
Colombian coal restrained
Drummond – Colombia’s second biggest coal producer – has cut exports from the nation by 27,000 tonnes a day due to a recent court-extended night time ban on coal hauling through the Fenoco rail line.
Glencore’s Colombian subsidiary Prodeco also uses this rail line but reportedly did not respond to a Bloomberg email over how the ban was affecting its exports.
