An accident at one of the Chinese mines led to the shutdown of part of the production in China and the growth of imports. Russian coal has risen in price by 12%.
"The suspension of the operation of some Chinese mines after a major accident led to an increase in export prices for coking coal from Kuzbass by almost 12%. The retired metallurgical coal production capacity is estimated at 125 million tons,"Kommersant writes with reference to data from the Price Index Center (CCI).
Thus, the cost of Kuzbass coking coal of the GJ brand in the ports of the Far East in the last week of May increased by almost 12% — to $ 149 per ton (FOB), and pulverized coal fuel (PCI) went up by 5.4% — to $ 136 per ton.
The price began to rise after an accident at a mine in the Chinese province of Shanxi. More than 80 people died there, and the tragedy became one of the largest in China.
"In this situation, we, together with the Chinese people, mourn the victims of the accident and sympathize with their families. Unfortunately, the low—mechanized coal mining industry is full of tragic stories, as practice shows in Western countries, ours, and China," says Maxim Shaposhnikov, adviser to the Industrial Code Fund manager.
Coal miners' accidents in China are an increase in inspections and shutdowns of mines in the country, the expert notes.
"As of May 27, the work of 113 Chinese mines producing metallurgical coal with a total capacity of 125 million tons per year was stopped," Kommersant cites the review of the Central Data Center.
Nariman Tayketayev, Director of the Corporate Ratings Group of the NKR Agency, told the publication that in the short term, prices for Russian coking coal may rise by another 5-10%.
"For the market, a halt means an increase in demand for energy and coking coal due to China's growing demand for imported coal. The current effect of the price increase, coupled with the weakening ruble, can bring the Russian coal industry into a positive operating zone in the eastern direction, even against the background of an increase in the cost of renting wagons. Nevertheless, it is still far from a complete exit from the red zone and, most likely, it will not be possible to achieve a positive net profit of the industry this year," Maxim Shaposhnikov believes.