Prices for ex-Australia premium hard coking coal (PHCC) have hit and exceeded the $240/mt FOB level. A deal for 75,000 mt of ex-Australia low-volatile Saraji PHCC was done at $242/mt FOB yesterday, August 2, for September 11-20 shipment. “I am considering this level as the real market price now, but for mid-volatile material $239-240/mt FOB would be more accurate,” a Singapore-based trader said. The SteelOrbis reference price has increased by $5/mt to $242/mt FOB.
The tradable level for import PHCC in China has increased by $5/mt to $250-255/mt CFR. “Chinese [coke] producers have announced a fourth round of price increases [by RMB 110/mt]. Even though rainfalls are hitting transportation, I see the Chinese market as being pretty strong,” a source said.