SINGAPORE: APAC thermal coal prices are likely to come under pressure in the near-term due to seasonally weaker demand and the lifting of a ban on coal exports in Indonesia, Fitch Ratings has said. The Indonesian government’s ban on coal exports in January 2022 sent the benchmark Newcastle 6,000kcal/kg grade coal price to USD249/tonne by end-January, after it fell to USD166/tonne at the end of 2021 when tight supply in China eased. Power consumption in major Asian economies has been stabilising in recent months, said Fitch Ratings in its report titled “APAC Thermal Coal Watch.” China’s benchmark Qinhuangdao 5,500kcal/kg price decreased to CNY800/tonne by end-2021 after the government took steps to boost production before rebounding to CNY1,010/tonne by end-January 2022. Domestic coal output rose by 7.4% yoy and 13.1% qoq in 4Q21, driving full-year production up 4.7%. TLTP
