The volume of coal traded and cleared in April on the ICE Futures platform was 123.88 million mt, down 25% from a four-month high in March and 40% below the same month in 2016, data from energy exchange ICE Futures Europe and electronic trading platform globalCOAL showed Tuesday.
April's monthly volume comprised 32%, or 39.52 million mt, of options, which was 43.5% higher on the month but 39% down on the year.
The amount of ICE Rotterdam Coal Futures traded and cleared during April fell 26% on the month and 44% on the year to 93.26 million mt.
Of the total, 40%, or 37.26 million mt, was traded as options, 46% higher on the month but down 40% on the year.
According to S&P Global Platts data, Rotterdam prompt-month May derivatives dropped $1.50 during the month to close at $74.60/mt on April 28.
ICE Richards Bay Futures volumes dropped 41% on the month to 3.84 million mt, which was also 35% lower than the same month in 2016. No options were traded for the second straight month.
Meanwhile, volumes of globalCOAL Newcastle Coal Futures traded and cleared during April dropped 20% on the month to 26.78 million mt, which was also 18% lower on-year.
Options comprised 8% of the total Newcastle contracts at 2.26 million mt, which was up 7% on the month but down 10% on the year.
Newcastle prompt-month paper prices plunged $8.55 during April to $79.50/mt at the end of the month.
