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Thursday, 27 June 13
US COAL EXPORTS BEATS CHINESE COAL IMPORTS AS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL COAL TRADE - BIMCO
 The influence of American coal exports on seaborne transportation has grown significantly over the past decade. In 2002, the US exported 20.1 million tons by sea, but in 2012 that number had increased to 106.7 million tons. The effect on shipping has multiplied due to the fact that much of the demand growth has come from East Asian countries. With a large part of the US Coal destined for East Asia being shipping out of the US East Coast ports, this will increase the demand for tonnage.
Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO, Peter Sand, says: “As a consequence, the transportation demand stemming from US coal exports has surged from 84.7 billion tonne-miles in 2002 to an estimated 707.3 billion tonne-miles in 2012 (835% over the period). In comparison, the Chinese coal imports in 2012 accounted for an estimated 697.6 billion tonne-miles of demand for seaborne transportation. This means the US coal exports was more important to the dry bulk shipping market than the Chinese coal imports in 2012”.
Dissection of the US coal exports
The US exported 22.0 million tons of coal to the East Asian countries of South Korea, Japan and China in 2012, of which 5.1 million tons came from Pacific ports. The Pacific ports export thermal coal to East Asia, while the US East coast and Gulf coast (USEC/USGC) ports export both thermal coal and coking coal. Of the total 22.0 million tons exported to East Asia in 2012, coking coal made up 14.9 million tons (68%) and thermal coal made up 7.1 million tons (32%). 40% of the coal exported to East Asia came from Baltimore, a Capesize-accommodating port that attracts Asian buyers, who also has to accept an extended distance of more than 14,000 nautical miles to reach the port of discharge. Likewise, the US exported 51.3 million tons of coal to the EU in 2012. The main destinations were the Netherlands and the UK with a total of 23.1 million tons. A part of the coal exports to the Netherlands are subsequently transhipped to German buyers. Traditionally, most of the European trade has been for coking coal, but 2012 marked the year where this pattern changed. In 2012, the US exported 27.9 million tons of thermal coal to the EU (54%), but only 23.4 million tons of coking coal (46%). Unlike the exports going to East Asia, all coal exports to Europe came from USEC/USGC ports making the transit distances substantially shorter. The result is that the exports to East Asia are more beneficial for the shipping industry than the exports to the European Union, despite involving much lower volumes.
Thermal coal exports – Reflecting a new energy market in the US
The increased thermal coal exports is explained by the large-scale exploitation of unconventional fuels in the US, which has made consumption of domestic oil and gas relatively cheaper. The average Brent-WTI spread went from nothing to around USD 17 per barrel during 2011 and 2012, while domestic US natural gas prices have halved since mid-2000s.
As a consequence, the domestic consumption of coal fell by 11% to 807.8 million tons in 2012. Since the production only fell by 7.2% to 922.1 million tons, the potential for exports has increased. Meanwhile, European gas-driven power plants suffer from oil-indexed contracts and higher oil prices, making coal the cheapest option for energy in Europe. Working in the same direction was the “collapsing” carbon prices within the EU ETS which only made the appetite for coal more significant. “Back loading” or not in the EU ETS, this is probably going to be the case also in the coming years. The low freight rates during the past two years have also been an incentive for importing coal from countries far away such as the US and Colombia. The thermal coal to East Asia is primarily shipped to South Korea, who has virtually no coal mining industry. The increased South Korean demand for US coal originates from a desire to diversify trading partners to manage rising coal costs.
Coking coal exports – a matter of Chinese steel production
Coking coal demand in East Asia has largely been a result of an increased Chinese steel production. The Chinese steel output in 2012 was four times larger than in 2002, while the production in Japan and South Korea has remained relatively unchanged. As a consequence, China has increased its imports of coking coal, which has benefitted the US as well.
South Korea has traditionally imported coking coal from Australia, Canada and China. However, due to the Chinese domestic demand, South Korean steel mills have to source their coal elsewhere than China, which has benefitted exporting countries such as the US and Russia. Japan has imported less coking coal post-2008, but the country has increased its coking coal imports from the US as a substitute for Australian coking coal, which means that the distances travelled increase fourfold.
In the EU, seaborne coking coal demand has been relatively stable over the last decade, but a larger share is being sourced from the US. In 2002, the US exported 9.9 million tons to the European Union; in 2012, the number had increased to 23.4 million tons. The increased demand for coking coal came from Germany and the Netherlands in particular, but also from Italy, France and the UK. Outlook Looking forward, India could become a medium-term growth factor as the country has experienced very high demand growth for US coal during the past five years. The US exported 6.4 million tons to India in 2012 – all shipped from USEC/USGC ports. Back in the US there are talks about building a large coal export terminal at Cherry Point, state of Washington or in the state of Oregon. One proposal, at Cherry Point near the Canadian border on the West Coast, plans to have a capacity of 48 million tons per year. The terminals would accommodate the large thermal coal reserves in Montana and Wyoming. Out of the 431.1 million tons of thermal coal produced in 2011 in these states, only 15.5 million tons were exported (source: EIA). The terminals are being built to meet the increasing demand for coal-fired power generation in East Asia, and at full capacity, the Cherry Point terminal would create employment for 40 Capesize vessels on an annualised basis. We expect to see a surge in exports if the terminals are built. US thermal coal exports to East Asia in April were slightly up from the same month last year (8%), but down by 24% from the month before which represented an all-time-high in total coal exports. Coking coal is more of a joker, as the April numbers throw a wet blanket over the party. Coking coal exports to East Asia were substantially down from the same month last year (-40%) as well as from last month (-44%). Sources attribute this to lower GDP growth in China combined with a massive oversupply of coal in East Asia. Some analysts therefore expect US coal exports to be 10-15% lower this year compared to last year.
Another potential threat comes from the talks of a Chinese ban on high-sulphur and low-calorific coal, as much of the US coal going to China has a high content of sulphur. In 2012, China imported 8 million tons of coal with sulphur content above 1%. It is however uncertain if Beijing will ratify the coal ban. However the US has lots of low sulphur coal reserves to substitute the high sulphur coal if it is demanded.
“When we look into the future, global demand for thermal and coking coal is set for solid growth with thermal coal being in the driving seat both in terms of volume and percentage growth. If the US can stay price competitive in the market and scale up Pacific port capacity, the longer sailing distances are likely to benefit dry bulk shipping demand along the road” adds Peter Sand.
Source: BIMCO / Hellenic Shipping News
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Thursday, 05 September 13
DRY BULK MARKET ON A HIGH ROLL, MAINLY THANKS TO CAPESIZE APPETITE - NIKOS ROUSSANOGLOU, HELLENIC SHIPPING
Capesize owners have been rejoycing on the back of renewed optimism for the further rise in the dry bulk market's freight rates, especially when on ...
Wednesday, 04 September 13
RBCT SHIPPED 16.18 PERCENT MORE COAL IN JULY
COALspot.com - Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) is the single largest coal export terminal South African as well as in the world has shipped 6,162, ...
Wednesday, 04 September 13
SUPRAS AND HANDIES : INDONESIAN COAL CARGOES ARE SUPPORTING HEALTHY ACTIVITY LEVELS - INTERMODAL
The Dry Bulk market has pooled back a bit this week after firming for two weeks in a row. The BDI is s holding above 1,100 points and despite the sm ...
Tuesday, 03 September 13
AUSTRALIA'S NEWCASTLE PORT SHIPPED 22.93 PER CENT MORE COAL W-O-W
COALspot.com: Power plant and semi-soft coking coal shipments from Australia's Newcastle port up 22.93 per cent week on week to 3.39 million mt for ...
Sunday, 01 September 13
COAL SWAP SHOWS MIXED TREND
COALspot.com – Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swaps (FOB ) for average Q4 2013 delivery 1.25 percent up month on month. The swap was moved posit ...
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- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
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- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
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- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
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- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- The University of Queensland
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
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- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- MS Steel International - UAE
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Australian Coal Association
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- White Energy Company Limited
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Economic Council, Georgia
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- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Planning Commission, India
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
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- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
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- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
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- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
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- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- PTC India Limited - India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
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- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
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- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
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