DAILY: China's thermal coal market in stalemate as mine-port divergence lingers

China's portside thermal coal market extended its sideways drift to a fifth straight session on June 12, while mine-mouth prices ticked higher as fresh suspensions in Inner Mongolia and Shanxi tightened spot supply, deepening the divergence between the two ends of the market.

Market views on the near-term direction remained divided, sources said. Bullish participants pointed to tightening pithead supply and the coming summer peak to justify holding inventories, while bearish voices highlighted persistent downstream caution, arguing any price rebounds would be limited. On Friday, Mysteel assessed 5,500 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal at