China research trip - Coal demand falling in China's eastern provinces

China’s coal market is showing an abnormal trend in Q2 – both supply and demand are lower than expected. To find out what is driving this market behaviour, Wood Mackenzie’s coal team recently visited several gencos, ports, and steel, chemical and cement producers in China’s eastern provinces. Read this report to learn more about three of the biggest concerns: • Restricted supply following mine accidents has resulted in prices at the mine mouth increasing. However, port-side prices have not risen. So, apart from weather conditions, why is demand weak in the coastal region? • Although demand is weak, the price gap between high CV and low CV coals is widening. What’s causing the growing gap? • According to China Customs, imports of Australian coal dropped 27% year-on-year in the first four months of 2019. What’s behind the fall and what’s the attitude of importers?