WEEKLY: Chinese met coal market downturn slows

The downward trend in China's metallurgical coal market clearly slowed during March 17-21, buoyed by some buying interest from traders and downstream users amid easing pessimism. Yet the market hasn't gained enough support to bounce back in the near term.

Mysteel's assessment of the national composite coking coal price inched down by Yuan 5.9/tonne ($0.8/t) on week to sit at Yuan 1,065.4/t including the 13% VAT by March 21, easing from a steeper fall of Yuan 14.7/t recorded a week earlier. The past week started with a bearish note, as