Commodity Market Report
Coal Market Service thermal trade 2021 outlook to 2050
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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
The world economic engine has restarted as global vaccination programmes begin to show results. While demand has sprung to life, disrupted supply chains are struggling to catch up and thermal coal is no different. We forecast global thermal coal demand to be 4% higher in 2021 than last year with seaborne trade up 3%. Several factors have disrupted supply this year, such as coronavirus measures, wet weather, mine accidents, licence disputes, protests and strikes. The result? Thermal coal prices are soaring in 2021 to levels not seen in more than a decade. Is this a shift back towards thermal coal or a temporary rise in demand? What about the numerous carbon policies announced by countries over the past year? Is there a long-term future for thermal coal? Please read our report to find out our thoughts and forecast through 2050 for demand, trade, prices and supply.
Table of contents
- Near-term risk to our forecast:
- Long-term risk to our forecast:
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Prices
- Phase 1: Price correction back to marginal costs as supply returns (2021 – 2024)
- Coal-to-gas switching window reopened in South Korea, supporting anti-coal policy implementation
- Australia high ash discount remains wide amid China’s coal ban
- Phase 2: Price recovers as overcapacity pressure declines with requirement for highly probably projects (2025 – 2027)
- Phase 3: Incentive projects needed as operating capacity fall accelerates (2028 – 2032)
- Phase 4: Prices peak as riskier possible projects get incentivised. (2033 – 2044)
- Phase 5: Accelerated energy transition amid emission targets weigh on prices (2045 – 2050)
- Global thermal coal demand peaks in 2025
- 15 more item(s)...
Tables and charts
This report includes the following images and tables:
- Phase 1 marker coal price forecast, real 2021 US$/t
- Supply gap vs FOB Newcastle market price (Mt, US$/t)
- South Korea coal-to-gas switching incentives
- Japan coal-to-gas switching incentives
- FOB Newcastle HA vs other seaborne prices, energy-adjusted (%)
- NEWC HA FOB delivered to South China vs CFR China HA
- Phase 2 marker coal price forecast, real 2021 US$/t
- Supply gap vs FOB Newcastle market price (Mt, US$/t)
- Benchmark thermal coal seaborne export incentive prices
- Phase 3 marker coal price forecast, real 2021 US$/t
- Thermal coal price forecast, FOB (US$/t, real 2021)
- Thermal coal price forecast, delivered (US$/t, real 2021)
- 13 more item(s)...
What's included
This report contains:
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