Monthly Record Seen for Chinese Coal Imports

[phantom power]

feed the beast

All-time highs in Chinese coal imports are expected this month and next, the firm said in a report issued earlier this month. Describing its estimates as conservative, Commodore predicts that Chinese coal imports will total about 16.75 million tons in November and 17.25 million tons in December, the vast majority of it steaming or thermal coal used for heat and electricity. The previous record, set in December 2009, was 16.38 million tons of imports, the company said.

In the first week of November, 15 boats were chartered specifically to carry coal to China, compared with an average of 12 a week in October, the consultancy said. Prices for coal rose to about $128 per metric ton, about 10 percent higher than in September.

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/monthly-record-seen-for-chinese-coal-imports/