According to China Coal Transportation and Development Association data, coal prices at Qinhuangdao Port, China's largest coal trans shipment port, remained flat from September 7th 2012 to September 13th 2012.
Mr Qu Juan, a coal expert with the CCTDA, said that thermal power plants' efforts to increase stockpiles prevented domestic coal prices from falling further in the past three weeks.
He added that weak demand for the fuel on the back of lower economic growth however will continue to push coal prices downwards in the mid term.
According to CCTDA data, coal stockpiles at Qinhuangdao Port dropped to 6.82 million tonnes on September 9th 2012 from 8.17 million tonnes on August 5th 2012.
Coal prices on September 7th 2012 and September 13th 2012
| Coal type | Heat value (Kcal/KG) | FOB price on Sept 7 | FOB price on Sept 13 |
| Datong premium blend | 5,800 | 700 �710 | 700 �710 |
| Shanxi premium blend | 5,500 | 630 �640 | 630 �640 |
| Shanxi blend | 5,000 | 535 � 545 | 535 � 545 |
| General blend | 4,500 | 440 � 450 | 440 - 450 |
In CNY per tonne
Source: CCTDA
Source - Interfax China
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