Coal prices are falling

Spot prices for coal used in power plants have plummeted after a strong surge last fall. This happened when China eased restrictions on domestic coal production.

China's energy policy has the potential to set trends in international coal prices as the resource-intensive country significantly expands imports. At the same time, Japanese electricity producers are gradually increasing their coal purchases.

Australian thermal coal prices, the benchmark for the Asian market, were around $ 82 per tonne in mid-January, down more than 20% from their recent high in November.

China has been a major driver of coal market movements in recent years. Coal spot prices have shown a downward trend since 2012 due to oversaturation in the international market. Coal suppliers around the world have increased capacity on the expectation that demand from China will continue to grow. But the country's slowdown is stifling demand, leaving the market flooded with goods.