Home > Chemical News

Chemical News

ICE coal futures slip 1% lower on-month in Apr to 205.6 mil mt

http://www.chemnet.com   May 10,2016 Platts
The volume of coal traded and cleared on the ICE futures platform during April slipped 1% month on month to 205.6 million mt, with a higher ICE Rotterdam total offset by lower volumes in the South African and Australian FOB markets, according to data from energy exchange ICE Futures Europe and electronic trading platform globalCOAL late Friday.

The volume was, however, 49% higher than the same month in 2015.

April's monthly volume comprised 31%, or 64.5 million mt, of options, down 17% from March but 27% higher than a year ago.

The amount of ICE Rotterdam Coal Futures traded and cleared during the month rose 4% on the month to a three-month high of 167.2 million mt, also increasing 88% year on year.

Of the volume, 37%, or 62 million mt, was traded as options, slipping 5% from March but jumping 73% on the year.

According to Platts market data, Rotterdam prompt-month May derivatives rose $1.20 during the month to close at $45.70/mt April 29.

ICE Richards Bay Futures volumes dropped 49% on the month to a six-month low of 5.9 million mt, although the volume was 24% higher than the same month in 2015. No Richards Bay options were traded during the month, compared with 2 million mt in March.

The Richards Bay May swaps contracts increased $1.65 during April to close at $52.95/mt at the end of the month, according to S&P Global Platts data.

Volumes of globalCOAL Newcastle Coal Futures traded and cleared during April were down 8% on the month to a four-month low of 32.5 million mt, also 27% lower on the year.

Options made up 8% of the total Newcastle contracts at 2.5 million mt, which plunged 75% from March and 83% from April 2015.

According to Platts data, Newcastle prompt-month paper prices gained $1.05 from April 1 to $50.90/mt at the end of the month.
 Print  |    add to Favorites  |    Close