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Monday, 27 December 10
ANALYSIS: CHINA'S COAL PRODUCTION MISMATCHED WITH DOMESTIC DEMAND
 As reported by iStock Analyst, China's coal market has been trapped in a strange cycle. Large coal production bases are facing overcapacity, while large coal consumption provinces are in short supply of power coal.
This structural contradiction between supply and demand in China's coal market has highlighted heated discussions recently.
Coal producers facing mounting pressure of excess in output capacity
China is facing severe excess of production capacity and oversupply of coal in 2010 due to the expansion of coal production and surging imports amid sluggish demand, and this situation is expected to carry on into 2011 as new coal companies begin operation.
Wang Zhanjun, director-general of the China Coal (TSXV:CKO) Industry Association, said that China's coal supply capacity has seen a remarkable increase in 2010 due to the operation of newly formed coal companies after mergers and acquisitions.
In the first 11 months of 2010, the country's leading coal producing provinces and regions including Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Ningxia all saw more than 20 percent growth in coal output.
According to a report by the association, in the first 11 months of 2010 China's coal output surged 15.5 percent or 418 million metric tons (tonnes) year on year to 3.039 billion tonnes, while coal sales were up 13.5 percent or 390 million tonnes to 2.892 billion tonnes. Coal deliveries increased by 15.3 percent year on year to 1.827 billion tonnes during the same period.
The investment in fixed assets in the coal industry has continued to increase this year. In the first 11 months of 2010, fixed assets investment in coal mining and washing saw 22.7 percent year-on-year growth to 320.7 billion yuan.
Meanwhile, China's coal imports keep rising while exports keep declining. In January-November, China's coal exports dropped 13.5 percent to 17.58 million tonnes, and are expected to remain low in December. Total coal exports are estimated at 19 million tonnes for the whole year.
In sharp contrast to declining exports, coal imports maintained fast growth in 2010. Net imports of coal are expected to reach 145 million tonnes in 2010.
However, China's coal demand has remained sluggish this year. Affected by the measures for energy conservation and emissions reduction, electricity consumption growth of high energy-consuming industries like ferrous metals, chemicals, non-ferrous metals, and building materials has fallen back quickly since May of 2010, which in turn has cut coal consumption severely.
Coal consumption in the steel industry moved from positive growth to negative growth in 2010.
According to official statistics, China's daily crude steel output saw fast growth in the first half of 2010 but registered three months of negative growth in the third quarter, and only increased 4.8 percent in November.
Also, coal consumption in the chemicals industry has also remained sluggish this year. According to preliminary forecasts, coal consumption in the chemicals industry in 2010 will stay at the same level as in 2009, at 140 million tonnes.
The China Electricity Council predicted that electricity demand in China would not increase much in 2010 and 2011, estimating the growth at 10 percent in 2010, 14 percentage points lower than in 2009.
Therefore, coal industry is expected to face mounting oversupply pressure in 2011 since the output of majority coal enterprises would double. Meanwhile, large numbers of coalmines in Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia are scheduled to begin operation in 2011, and the coal oversupply will be aggravated by the participation of more downstream firms in power generation and metallurgy, said Wang Zhanjun, head of the China Coal Industry Association.
Wang predicted that coal supply in China would increase 300 million tonnes in 2011, and China would face excess in supply of coal.
Short supply of coal at power plants
In sharp contrast with the excessive output and supply of coal, a number of power plants in parts of China are suffering from shortages of power coal.
In Guizhou province, coal output capacity is significantly less than demand. The local coal output is expected to increase by 160 million tonnes at most in 2011, which would exacerbate the tight supply. This is because the output capacity of newly formed coalmines is inadequate to make up for eliminated production capacity, and the newly formed capacity will not come into operation until the second half of 2011.
At the same time, power plants in Guizhou cannot afford coal produced outside the province because of higher coal prices.
Similar short supply of coal has also occurred in Hubei province. Coal stocks at power plants in Hubei have remained at critical level since the beginning of this year, and sometimes were even not enough for one week's consumption.
The power coal shortage is not only a headache for power plants in non-coal production areas, but also hit power plants in major coal production areas like Shanxi and Henan.
Take the Datang Taiyuan Second Thermal Power Plant for example. The plant has suffered coal shortages four times since the beginning of 2010 because its contracted coal supplier supplied only 400,000 tonnes of coal towards meeting the 1.5-million-tonne coal contract.
As of December 4, power coal stocks of Henan have slid sharply from 3.84 million tonnes at the beginning of November to 2.65 million tonnes, far below the critical level of 3.5 million tonnes.
This has led to a daily supply shortage of 700,000 tonnes. Current coal production system might be primary cause
The short supply of power coal against excess of overall output capacity in China is believed to be caused mainly by system contradictions existing in the coal industry.
Actually, China's coal industry has trapped in a strange circle. Coal demand weakens after power plants stockpile power coal, but after the stockpiling, coal stocks of coal producers are down. Therefore, the coalmines produce more coal, which eventually leads to excess of output and excessive supply of coal.
Some coal suppliers have complained that if they carry on supplying coal according to their coal contracts with the power plants at the contracted price, the coalmines would all suffer (OOTC:WLVTQ) losses while the power plants all make profits.
A senior manager of the Shenhua Group said that it is difficult to avoid the structural contradictions of disjointed coal output and demand under the current government-capped management system. The outlook of China's coal industry remains troubled for 2011, and the problem of excessive output capacity would continue to be widespread in China, especially in western areas.
According to the manager, branches of the Shenhua Group in Xinjiang are all in the red due to heavy coal inventory pressure, while some provinces in east and south China are suffering from severe shortages of coal.
An insider with the Shanxi Coking Coal Group said that the group was ambitiously planning to double its output capacity during the period of the 12th Five Year Plan (2011-15), but the current market environment is very unfavorable for the coal industry. The cost of acquiring small coalmines has spiraled far beyond expectations.
Therefore, the mismatch between coal supply and demand at the turn of the new year is manageable, and the market is expected to see increasing supply and decreasing demand soon, noted the insider.
But Wang Xianzheng expressed disagreement. He believed that China's coal demand would increase by 200 million to 300 million tonnes in 2011. Besides which, the government-planned construction of 10 million units of affordable housing would drive coal demand by 60 million tonnes at least. Wang believed that the coal price would remain buoyant in 2011 but would not rise much.
Source: Quotemedia, Xinhua News Agency (Edited by Li Xiaohui), istockanalyst
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Tuesday, 04 January 11
BALI, INDONESIA HOST OF WORLD RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONFERENCE
Press Release - Indonesian Renewable Energy Society (METI – IRES) has launched the plan for organizing the international gathering ...
Tuesday, 04 January 11
DRY BULK MARKET TO RANGE BETWEEN 1,700 AND 2,600 POINTS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2011, ANALYSTS SAY - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
As we entered 2011, ship owners and analysts, as well as shipbrokers are looking into their “crystal balls” to try to decode the dry bul ...
Monday, 03 January 11
TAXATION FOR COAL MINING COMPANIES IN INDONESIA - A TAX EXPERTS VIEW
COALspot.com - Mrs. Sri Wahyuni Sujono, managing partner of SF Consulting has wrote an exclusive report regarding taxation for coal mining companies ...
Sunday, 02 January 11
JAISWAL TO SEEK COAL MINES IN AFRICA - HINDUSTAN TIMES
Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal will talk with his counterparts in South Africa and Mozambique during his visit from January 5 to secure coal asset ...
Saturday, 01 January 11
COAL PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO EXCEED 340 MILLION TONS THIS YEAR - THE JAKARTA POST
The Jakarta Post reported that, Indonesian coal miners expect to produce 340 million tons of coal in 2011, an increase of 23 percent from 275 millio ...
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- Planning Commission, India
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- White Energy Company Limited
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- The University of Queensland
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
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