DAILY: Thermal coal stocks at China's northern ports build as demand weakens

Domestic thermal coal inventories at China's northern ports continued to build on August 19 as shipments to South and East China weakened sharply, pointing to softer downstream demand. The demand slowdown increasingly offset supply-side support from tight mine availability, keeping the market in another session of price stability.

On Wednesday, Mysteel assessed 5,500 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal at northern ports at Yuan 861/tonne ($127.1/t) FOB with VAT, unchanged for a sixth consecutive session. The 5,000 kcal/kg and 4,500 kcal/kg NAR grades also held steady at Yuan 771/t and Yuan 685/t, respectively. At eastern Yangtze River ports, 5,500