Spot prices for both premium
and second-tier hard coking coals in Australia were largely steady even after BHP Billiton's force majeure extended to its second week.
Platts assessed premium low-vol Coking Coal at $213.50/MT FOB, i.e. unchanged
from Monday, and HCC 64 mid-vol at $186.50/MT FOB, also unmoved.
Miners and traders said they saw few spot inquiries over the first two days of the week,
contrasting with the flurry of interest seen when the force majeure clause was evoked in the first week.
On the supply side, Australian miners said they had no
immediate spot availability and most traders and buyers felt May cargoes should
be available.
There was also no clarity on April-June 2012 benchmark price
and it has not been communicated in the market, in spite of a meetings taking
place last week between Anglo American and Nippon Steel, a number of Japanese
market participants said on Tuesday.
Source: Platts
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