FX.co ★ Coal Declines on Weak Global Demand

In mid-September, Newcastle coal futures dropped to below $104 per tonne, reaching a three-month low due to limited global demand impacting prices. According to industry data, global coking coal volumes decreased by 6% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, totaling approximately 172 million tons. This decline reflects a reduction in steel production, an increase in domestic supply in key markets, and shifting trade dynamics as major importers like India and China decreased their seaborne purchases. In India, buyers exercised caution, resulting in several unsold cargoes, while in China, early autumn demand remained weak due to further drops in domestic prices. Contributing to the downward sentiment, uncertainty over coke costs lingered after leading steel producers in Hebei and Shandong initiated the first round of price reductions.