China’s coal market is experiencing a period of stability as the country approaches the Lunar New Year holiday, while Indonesia faces disruptions to its coal exports. These developments, observed on , highlight the complex dynamics of the global coal trade and its reliance on key producers like China and Indonesia.
China’s Thermal Coal Market Enters Holiday Lull
The Chinese thermal coal market demonstrated little movement on , with both supply and demand softening in anticipation of the Lunar New Year celebrations, which are less than two weeks away. Mysteel, a leading price reporting agency in China, reports that prices for thermal coal (Q5500) in major Chinese cities remained stable. Specific price data from indicates thermal coal freight rates to China were being actively tracked, alongside prices in cities across the country.
Further details from Mysteel show specific coal prices as of : CCI 3800 Import was at 455.5 Yuan/t, a 5.49% increase year-on-year. CCI Shanxi Low-sulphur was trading at 1621 Yuan/t, showing no day-on-day change but remaining stable year-on-year. Luliang Quasi Grade I Met coal was also stable at 1290 Yuan/t, with no day-on-day or year-on-year change. Thermal coal portside prices at Caofeidian port were also updated on .
Looking ahead, the China Economic Council (CEC) forecasts a 5-6% rise in China’s power consumption in . This anticipated increase in demand could put upward pressure on coal prices later in the year, depending on supply dynamics and other energy sources.
Indonesia’s Coal Exports Face Headwinds
Indonesia, a major global coal exporter, experienced a 7.2% year-on-year decrease in its coal exports in , totaling approximately 524 million tonnes. This marks the first annual decline in Indonesian coal exports since , when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global markets. The data was released by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) on .
Adding to the challenges, Indonesian coal miners have reportedly halted spot exports due to uncertainty surrounding proposed production cuts by the Indonesian government. According to a report by Chinese financial news agency CLS, mining officials cited concerns over revised RKAB (Work Plan and Budget) quotas as the reason for the suspension, as of . This move could further tighten global coal supply and potentially impact prices.
Market Data and Analysis
As of , thermal coal stocks stood at 3212 Kt, a slight week-on-week increase but a significant 51% year-on-year rise. Coking coal stocks were at 1222.1 Kt, showing a substantial week-on-week increase of 84.2% and a year-on-year increase of 1821.1. Met Coke stocks were recorded at 170.3 Kt, with a week-on-week increase of 13.5% and a year-on-year increase of 767.8. These stock levels provide insight into the current supply situation in the Chinese market.
Sxcoal reports that China’s mine-mouth thermal coal prices are currently moving sideways, also attributed to fading pre-holiday demand. The met coke market is holding steady, supported by a balance between supply and demand. North China port thermal coal prices are also stable, influenced by soft demand and falling inventories.
Industry Events and Outlook
The 3rd China Coal Import International Summit is scheduled for , indicating continued interest in international collaboration within the coal sector. Recent publications include the 2025 China Thermal Coal Market Study and 2026 Outlook, as well as the 2024 China Coking Coal and Coke Market Study and 2025 Outlook, suggesting ongoing analysis of market trends.
The Fenwei China coal index system, established in , continues to provide a framework for assessing coal prices based on quality and transport distance. Mysteel’s CCI Daily newsletter offers daily updates on coastal and import thermal coal markets, coking coal, and related indices.
The combined effect of China’s stable domestic market and Indonesia’s export challenges suggests a potentially volatile period for the global coal trade. While China’s demand is expected to rise with increased power consumption, supply disruptions in Indonesia could exacerbate price fluctuations. Market participants will be closely monitoring developments in both countries as the Lunar New Year period concludes and economic activity resumes.
