The Atlantic met coal market Monday found US high-vol HCC remaining coveted in the region, and steady buying being described as Asia premium coal prices rise.
With the US on holiday and Europe starting its mid-year slowdown, new procurement activity may be reducing outside ongoing third quarter related talks or resultant business stoked by the recent quarterly benchmark and availability or interest to lift from contracts.
The $92.50/mt FOB Q3 marker was heard being referenced for Europe. US premium low-vols from Alabama may be using this price with a small discount where the coal was offered.
The high-vol segment was said to be tight and bid prices indicatively given around the $90/mt mark for high-vol A quality.
Some spot purchasing appetite later this quarter may be seen although contracts and longer-term multi cargo deals remained of interest.
Groups with captive US HCC production remained largely exporting only to related entities and selling the rest in domestic markets. There is more spot opportunity as mill utilization and coke rates become less stable.
The domestic US market has started to diversify further with short-term deals, and spot tonnages forming a larger part this year with more optional terms heard negotiated too, away from prior reliance on annual contracting.
Kick off pricing talks for next year were heard already in the market just before the July 4 holiday weekend.
S&P Global Platts assessed US low-vol hard coking coal, based on good-quality CAPP low-vol with 58% CSR and 1.5% MMR at 19% VM, up 50 cents at $89/mt FOB.
The Platts Australian Premium Low Vol net forward value for Europe moved up to $99.10/mt CFR basis Capesize freight to Rotterdam, up by $1.10 on a week earlier.
The Platts US high-vol A assessment was steady at $91.50/mt FOB US East Coast.
Platts assessed US high-vol B, based on 34% VM coal with 25,000 ddpm and sulfur of 0.95%, unchanged at $83.50/mt FOB USEC.
In the freight market, Tata Steel was seeking a Panamax loading from Baltimore and Hampton Roads to Port Talbot, with a July 20-25 target laycan.
