Courtesy of ANZ.
Newcastle FOB October coal prices improved slightly to USD91.8/t. BHP Billiton boosted thermal coal production in its 2012 financial year, with record high output at two of its thermal coal mines in Australia and Colombia. BHP’s coking coal data was more bearish, with a large fall in earnings at its coking coal operations in 2012 due to strike action in Qld and the shutdown of its higher cost Norwich Park mine in April and Gregory open-cut mine recently due to escalating costs. Coking coal prices fell again to USD143.38/t overnight. Iron ore prices remained steady around USD109.5/t.
I’m a bit surprised that coking coal hasn’t gotten some lift yet from the iron ore bounce. It says volumes about the oversupply in the market that it hasn’t, although the two commodities do not always move in sink. I’m no expert on coking coal so if any reader cares to add to the discussion I’m all ears.
It is interesting to note in passing that although the iron ore price has stolen the headlines, the falls in the two coals are probably now having a worse impact on the terms of trade given neither has bounced.
