DAILY: China's thermal coal market looks to cold wave as demand stays thin

China's thermal coal market is holding steady into the winter's first serious cold wave, with weather now the main factor traders are watching. The warm spell before the cold front has reduced coal burn at utilities and slowed purchasing, while the accompanying snow could also slow truck haulage from mines to rail stations, so demand and logistics will be tested simultaneously.

China's National Meteorological Center expects two cold air masses from November 14 to 18 to cool most of the country by 6-10°C and leave most of northern China colder than normal. Rain and snow from November 15 to 17 will turn to heavy snow – locally blizzards – in