The volume of coal traded and cleared on the ICE Futures platform during February fell 22% from January's record high to 185.1 million mt, according to data from energy exchange ICE Futures Europe and electronic trading platform globalCOAL Thursday.
The monthly volume was just 1% lower than the same month in 2015.
February's monthly volume comprised 68.1 million mt of options, making up 37% of the total, which was 9% down from January, but 43% higher year on year.
The amount of ICE Rotterdam Coal Futures traded and cleared during the month fell 27% from January's record high to 131.4 million mt, although this was 8% higher than February 2015.
Of the volume, 39%, or 50.7 million mt, was traded as options, down 23% from January, but 77% higher on the year.
According to Platts data, Rotterdam prompt-month March derivatives rose 30 cents during the month to close at $44.20/mt February 29.
ICE Richards Bay Futures volumes dropped 24% on the month from January's 23-month high to 12.9 million mt, which was more than double the 5.8 million mt traded and cleared during the same month in 2015. No Richards Bay options traded for the eighth straight month.
The Richards Bay March swaps contracts increased noticeably during February, rising $2.80 to close at $51.80/mt at the end of the month, according to Platts data.
Volumes of globalCOAL Newcastle Coal Futures traded and cleared during February edged 3% lower on the month to 40.8 million mt, which was also 31% down on the year.
Options made up 43% of the total Newcastle contracts at a 12-month high of 17.4 million mt, which was 94% higher than January, but fell 8% on the year.
According to Platts data, Newcastle prompt-month paper prices gained $1.15 from February 1 to $50.45/mt at the end of the month.
