Combined coal stocks at four delivery terminals in western Europe's Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp trading hub fell 2% week on week to 5.92 million mt as of Monday, its lowest weekly volume in five weeks, according to data gathered from port sources.
Coal stocks at the OBA Bulk Amsterdam terminal fell to a five-month low of 2.35 million mt, 100,000 mt lower week on week and year on year.
Inventories at the EMO Dry Bulk Terminal in Rotterdam remained steady for the third consecutive week at 2.5 million mt, down 600,000 mt from the same week last year.
Port sources said coal stocks at the European Bulk Services (EBS) terminal in Rotterdam fell 20,000 mt week on week to 650,000 mt as of Monday.
No year-on-year comparison was available for EBS.
Stocks at the OVET Dry Bulk Terminal in Vlissingen grew 11,000 mt week on week to 420,000 mt. No year-ago data was available for OVET.
European-delivered thermal coal spot prices have been mostly following the movements of the coal swaps market and crude oil prices, with some marginal support from worries about a tighter availability of Russian thermal coal shipments in the ARA region.
However, weak demand from European utilities and sufficient supply of Colombian and South African coal made up for any potential concerns over Russian material.
Platts assessed the price of European-delivered CIF ARA thermal coal basis 6,000 kcal/kg NAR and for delivery within the next 15-60 days at $52.90/mt Tuesday, down 10 cents on the week.
