Back In The Black

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.