Illinois coal markets bore down by inventories, low prices

Illinois Basin markets remain to really feel the weight of high stockpiles, inexpensive gas as well as reduced electrical power prices, yet some upcoming ask for propositions should add clearness to the market, resources claimed Tuesday.

Two RFPs-- from Dayton Power & Light and joint solicitation from Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities-- out in the industry in what is traditionally the time of year when purchasers start rebuilding inventories after hefty winter usage, a coal manufacturer source claimed.

" The majority of people I speak to claim, 'our stockpiles are complete, electrical energy costs are lower than anticipated, we don't require any kind of coal this year,'" the resource stated. "They say they probably won't require coal following year either."

Supplies totaled 172.6 million st in the latest price quotes given by Coal Investor Analytics, up 15.7% from the exact same time a year earlier. Consumption has dropped 9% throughout the United States this year with the most significant declines in the MISO and also PJM areas, down 14% as well as 10%, specifically.

The Dayton RFP, due Monday, is seeking 250,000 st for Q3, the exact same quantity in Q4, as well as 1 million st in 2017. It is a standard RFP for this time of year for the Ohio-based energy, the resource claimed.

" In my viewpoint, this will certainly be some of the lowest pricing they've seen in a while," he claimed. "Also the affordable manufacturers are feeling the pinch."

The LG&E KU solicitation, due March 23, is seeking an unspecified quantity of high-sulfur thermal coal from the Illinois Basin or Eastern United States for 2017, 2018 as well as 2019. The acquisition will likely consist of a percentage of 9,000 Btu/lb -9,400 Btu/lb, high ash, reduced sulfur, middling coal, which is used to scrub out central heating boilers, the company has said.

Both firms can wind up waiting up until be up to make any purchasing decisions for 2017, the source said.

The resource reported selling a little industrial-sized allocation of 11,800 Btu/lb, 5 pounds SO2 rail coal right into the Upper Midwest at $34.50/ st for Q2 and also Q3.

Various other resources have not seen much if any kind of coal business.

A Kentucky utility said high stocks have actually shadowed getting decisions as wintertime has actually come and gone.

" We are still in a high supply situation, and thus, we're not actively joining any market activity," the source stated. " HEDP do not prepare for the market having much activity till some inventory begins to be reduced using coal shed, i.e. summertime or afterwards in the autumn."

Platts assessed prompt, second-quarter reduced chlorine Illinois Container 11,800 Btu/lb barge coal at $35.50/ st, as well as analyzed 11,000 Btu/lb barge coal at $31.50/ st. Both analyses were unmodified on the week.