Arch Coal has completed the acquisition of Rio Tinto's Jacobs Ranch coal mine for $764 million. For Rio Tinto, under tremendous pressure to reduce its $42-billion debt, the selling spree has just got underway. Meanwhile, rival BHP Billiton is sitting pretty with $18 billion in cash, and is eyeing 5 acquisitions. So is Western Coal.
Coal prices have risen 30 per cent from their low in March. However, for the second half of 2009, there are still risks of tight coal supply. In China, many domestic producers have arbitraged the low offshore prices with higher onshore prices, which has made demand look stronger than it was. So, correction is expected in the new two months. However, strong demand for thermal coal in China and India is expected to help Asia avoid the first fall in imports for a decade this year, and push import growth even higher in 2010.
India is on a coal buying spree ad the nation is scrambling to cover an expected shortfall in domestic supply. Coal majors are entertaining all levels of deals, from minority stakes in mines to becoming an operator. Many are chasing stakes in large-scale mines of 10 million to 15 million tonnes a year. Also being eyed are mid-sized thermal coal blocks in Australia.
Arch Coal Inc.’s bleak first-quarter earnings, dismal 2009 profit outlook and output cuts sent shares tumbling for the second straight day and prompted two analysts to cut the coal company’s price target. For full story, click here
Thursday, October 1, 2009