Commodity Market Report
China coal short-term outlook October 2020: stronger demand expected
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*Please note that this report only includes an Excel data file if this is indicated in "What's included" below
Report summary
Macroeconomic indicators suggest China’s economy continued to expand in Q3, but thermal and metallurgical coal prices are benefiting differently. While supply remained constrained in October, the QHD 5,500 price failed to rise further due to weaker thermal coal demand in the coastal region and robust hydro generation growth. We expect both domestic supply and demand to strengthen in November, bringing the price somewhere between RMB585/t and RMB620/t. Meanwhile, strong steel demand improved coking margins and translated into stronger metallurgical coal demand. Drawing down of inventory at mines has triggered a price uptick in metallurgical coal and we expect the trend to continue in November. Read our report for more details.
Table of contents
- Weak demand in the coastal region prevents QHD price rise
- Domestic coking coal price recovers quickly after inventory falls
- China GDP increases 4.9% year-on-year in Q3
- Hydro generation increased 23% year-on-year in September
- October high steel demand will last and support coal demand in November
- Output raised marginally in September
- Inner Mongolia supply returns
Tables and charts
This report includes the following images and tables:
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Key thermal coal prices: history and forecast (US$/t)Hard coking coal price arbitrage at Tangshan steel mill (US$/t nominal)Monthly coal-fired power generation (TWh)
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Monthly hydro-power generation (TWh)Monthly throughput at Qinhuangdao port (Mt)Monthly throughput at Huanghua port (Mt)Monthly hot metal production (Mt)Monthly metallurgical coke production (Mt)Thermal coal supply (Mt)Metallurgical coal supply (Mt)
What's included
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