- Portside thermal coal stocks stay broadly unchanged w-o-w
- South African coal offers firm amid slow post-Diwali trade
India’s coal market remained largely stable this week, as festive holidays and weak industrial operations kept trading subdued. Both portside and domestic segments showed limited activity, with buyers adopting a cautious stance after pre-festival stocking. Sentiment is expected to improve gradually from next week as post-Diwali demand revives and vessel arrivals normalise across major ports.
Indonesian portside coal prices stay steady amid festive lull
Portside prices for Indonesian thermal coal in India stayed firm in the week ending 24 October 2025 as festive holidays and weak industrial demand curbed trading. The 5000 GAR grade was steady at INR 7,100/t at Kandla and INR 7,050/t at Vizag, while 4200 GAR held at INR 5,800/t and INR 5,700/t, respectively. Supramax freights on the Indonesia-India (Navlakhi) route dipped by $0.69/t w-o-w to $15.50/t. Seaborne 5800 GAR rose $1.18/t to $78.36/t, supported by Chinese and Southeast Asian buying.
South African portside coal prices steady amid festive lull
South African portside coal prices in India stayed firm this week, with RB2 at INR 8,200/t and RB3 at INR 7,100/t across Paradip, Vizag, and Gangavaram. Trading slowed during the Diwali holidays, as most end-users had already procured material.
Portside stocks eased slightly by 0.7% w-o-w to 13.17 mnt, while sponge iron prices fell INR 500/t to INR 24,000/t ex-Rourkela. With the festive period ending, buying activity is expected to pick up gradually next week.
Domestic coal prices steady as market awaits SECL auction outcome
Domestic coal prices in India stayed unchanged this week, with 5,000 GCV at INR 6,250/t ex-Bilaspur and 4,500 GCV at INR 5,200/t. Trading activity remained muted as buyers waited for clarity from SECL’s auctions on 24 and 25 October. Participants expect clearer pricing direction once allocation results and delivery schedules are finalised in the coming week.
BigMint’s coking coal index edges higher on global price support
BigMint’s premium hard coking coal (PHCC) index rose $1/t w-o-w to $207/t CNF Paradip on 24 October. Despite limited trade activity, stronger Chinese buying interest lifted FOB Australia offers, lending upward momentum to global coking coal prices.
Indian met coke market steady amid holiday slowdown
India’s met coke market stayed stable this week as festive holidays kept trading activity muted. BF-grade (25–90 mm) met coke was assessed at INR 29,900/t ex-Jajpur and INR 30,000/t ex-Gandhidham, while foundry-grade material held at INR 35,500/t ex-Rajkot. Most buyers stayed on the sidelines during Diwali and Labh Panchmi, leading to limited spot deals and steady prices across key regions.
Imported pet coke market quiet amid festive slowdown in India
India’s imported pet coke market stayed quiet this week, as the extended festive holidays kept buying activity low and inquiries limited. Sellers kept offers stable, with BigMint assessing US-origin material at $118-120/t CFR and Saudi-origin at $117-119/t CFR. Market sentiment stayed steady with no major deals heard, while participants expect normal trading to return once industries resume operations post-festive break.
Dry bulk coal freights show mixed trends; Australia-India route leads gains
Coal freights to India moved unevenly this week amid muted trading. The Australia-India (Hay Point-Paradip) Panamax rate rose by $0.40/t w-o-w to $17.50/t, supported by strong spot demand from steelmakers and tighter vessel supply. The South Africa-India (Richards Bay-Paradip) route edged up by $0.08/t to $14.80/t, amid balanced activity. Meanwhile, Indonesia-India (East Kalimantan-Navlakhi) Supramax freights slipped by $0.69/t to $15.50/t due to weak cargo demand. Overall, sentiment stayed cautious as soft fundamentals and limited new fixtures kept market movement subdued.
Leave a Reply