Commodity Focus: Metallurgical Coal
BY ELIZABETH FABRI MOMENTUM is building in Australia’s metallurgical coal sector. Prices are up and producers are taking note, with plans to fast-track a number of new projects – particularly in QLD. But will supply disruptions in the State hurt long-term exports? After a turbulent couple of years, metallurgical (coking) coal is back in the black. This year prices floated around the $US200 per tonne mark; positive times when compared to 2015 lows of $US90/t. The rally is largely attributed to strong demand in China, India and Japan for steel, of which coking coal is a key, non-substitutable ingredient. India alone, relies on about 50 million tonnes of coking coal imports per annum, predominately from Australia, and analysts predict this…