Coal prices edge up at Qinhuangdao Port
Shanghai. March 30. INTERFAX-CHINA - Coal prices inched up at Qinhuangdao Port, China's largest coal trans-shipment port, in the week ending March 29, according to data from the China Coal Transportation and Development Association (CCTDA).
Domestic thermal coal prices are set to slide over the course of the year as the country's economy slows, Wang Yujun, CEO of state-run power producer China Resources Power Holdings Co. Ltd., told a press conference Monday.
Chinese power firms reported widespread losses in 2011 on high coal prices and the difficulty of passing on costs to consumers due to government mandated price caps.
Coal stockpiles at Qinhuangdao fell by roughly 560,000 tons, or eight percent, to 7.09 million tons from March 19 to March 25, show the CCTDA data.
Coal prices in the week ending March 29, 2012
| Coal type | Heat value(Kcal/KG) | FOB price on March 22(RMB, ton) | FOB price on March 29(RMB, ton) |
| Datong premium blend | 5,800 | 825-835 ($ 130.95 - $132.53) | 830-840 ($131, 74-$ 133.33) |
| Shanxi premium blend | 5,500 | 770 -780 ($122.22 - $123.81) | 775-785 ($123.01-$ 124.6) |
| Shanxi blend | 5,000 | 665 - 675 ($105.56 - $107.14) | 675-685 ($107.14- $108.73) |
| General blend | 4,500 | 565 - 575 ($88.88 - $92.26) | 575-585 ($91.26-$92.85) |
Source: CCTDA
Note: FOB = free on board
- OS