DAILY: China's thermal coal decline eases as utilities' consumption rises

China's spot thermal coal prices fell at a slower pace on January 21, as traders at northern ports adopted a firmer pricing stance amid rising coal burn at power utilities, sources said.

On Tuesday, Mysteel's assessment for 5,500 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal slid Yuan 2/tonne ($0.3/t) on day to sit at Yuan 694/t, FOB northern ports with VAT, narrowing from a Yuan 4/t fall on Monday. Similarly, 5,000 kcal/kg and 4,500 kcal/kg NAR coal were both assessed Yuan 2/t lower at