North America coal short-term outlook March 2022

More mild weather at the start of March gave coal generators a break during the first half of the month, but a late cold front erased any opportunity for significant stockpile build. Coal buyers have been playing catch-up for months now and are looking to take advantage of the shoulder season and rebuild their stockpiles. However, producers are persisting with a conservative approach to production increases. Factor in an array of infrastructure issues and some very attractive netbacks into Europe – and there may be less domestic coal available than utilities are hoping for.