DAILY: China's thermal coal market drifts lower as demand fades

China's thermal coal market turned quieter on March 4, with trading activity thinning and prices edging lower at northern ports as weak end-user demand overshadowed the support from relatively expensive imported cargoes.

On Thursday, Mysteel assessed 5,500 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal at Yuan 749/tonne ($108.6/t) FOB northern ports with VAT, down Yuan 1/t from a day earlier. The price for the 5,000 kcal/kg NAR grade fell Yuan 2/t to Yuan 671/t, while the 4,500 kcal/kg NAR grade dropped Yuan 3/t to