Last week, China's coking coal prices climbed 20-40 Yuan on week in Shandong, Hebei, Henan provinces, which was first increase since May this year.
According to statistics, from May this year, coking coal prices began to fall, which kept for five months. Up to Oct.12, the average price of fat coal (VAT-included) increased by 4 Yuan compared to 1135 Yuan/Ton in Sep. 28 to 1139 Yuan/Ton; 1/3 coking coal price (VAT-included) was 1063 Yuan/Ton, rose by 1 Yuan from 1062 Yuan/Ton in Sep. 28.
In contrast, local coking coal prices gained much more. The price of cleaned gas coal from Yanzhou, Shandong province surged from 935 Yuan/Ton at the end of September this year to 965 Yuan/Ton; during the period, price of cleaned coking coal from Kailuan, Hebei province jumped from 1270 Yuan/Ton to 1310 Yuan/Ton; that of primary coking coal from Pingdingshan, Henan province went up from 1210 Yuan/Ton to 1230 Yuan/Ton.
Some industry insiders think that along with the coking coal prices rebound, China's coal market is expected to recover in the fourth quarter of 2012.