DAILY: China's thermal coal price rally easing as headwinds emerge

China's thermal coal prices at northern ports extended their gains for a ninth consecutive session on October 19, but the pace of increases continued to slow as port inventories rebuilt and pithead prices began to soften.

On Monday, Mysteel assessed the benchmark 5,500 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal at Yuan 1,030/tonne ($154.2/t) FOB northern ports with VAT, up Yuan 4/t from last Friday. The 5,000 kcal/kg NAR grade rose Yuan 3/t to Yuan 931/t and the 4,500 kcal/kg NAR grade rose Yuan 2/t to Yuan 834/t. Higher-grade