DAILY: China's thermal coal stays flat amid weak pre-holiday buying

China's spot thermal coal prices at northern transshipment ports held largely steady on September 22, as portside sellers refused to discount and buyers were reluctant to chase prices higher. The market remained at an impasse, with support from the escalating mine-safety crackdown offset by subdued pre-holiday restocking demand.

On Tuesday, Mysteel assessed the benchmark 5,500 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal at Yuan 983/tonne ($146.7/t) FOB northern ports with VAT, flat for a third session. The 5,000 and 4,500 kcal/kg grades likewise held flat at Yuan 889/t and Yuan 803/t. At eastern ports along the Yangtze River, the 5,500