Trades for US thermal coal futures on the CME Group exchange increased in January as the market rebounded from what was a historic low in December for monthly volumes, according to CME Group data issued Wednesday.
Trading has sloughed off significantly in recent months due to the exit of a number of market participants, sources say.
The Central Appalachia rail (CSX) futures contract traded 1,635 times in January, up 79.7% from December but down 67.3% from the year-ago month.
Open interest in the financially-settled CSX contract totaled 3,770 contracts at the end of the month, up 9.1% from the prior month but down 10.7% from last year.
The financially-settled Powder River Basin 8,800 Btu/lb futures contract traded 1,100 times in January, up 93% from December but down 80.5% from the year-ago month.
Open interest in the PRB 8,800 contract totaled 2,910 contracts at the end of January, up 8% from the prior month but down 53.1% from last year.
The physically-settled CAPP barge contract did not trade in January. Open interest for the contract at the end of January was not included in the CME's report Wednesday, but stood at 110 contracts as of Tuesday, according to the CME's website.
Open interest for the CAPP barge contract stood at 862 contracts at the end of January 2015, according to CME records.
The exchange is planning to delist the CAPP barge contract after December of this year.
