Platts Premium Low Vol remained at $215/mt FOB, while HCC 64 Mid Vol rose slightly on the day to $199/mt FOB Australia, or $216/mt CFR China.
In China, a Panamax of US mid-vol HCC was reported sold to a washery at close to $210/mt CFR. The coal has 29% VM, 8% ash, 0.8% sulfur, a crucible swell number of 8, rank of 1.25 and fluidity of 1,000. The vessel is due to sail in mid to late November.
Elsewhere, an Australia HCC was offered to a large steelmaker at $215/mt FOB. The coal had around 25% VM, 9.5-10% ash, 0.7% sulfur, 2,000 fluidity, and is believed to have around 67% CSR. The cargo is to be shipped on a Panamax vessel, loading in November.
Some mills continued to maintain that $230/mt CFR would be acceptable for such coals as Elkview and German Creek, and $240-245/mt CFR for Peak Downs and Saraji.
Several market participants, both sellers and buyers, said they were unsure about the strength of China's steel industry at present. A large steelmaker said that it was "strange" how steel prices had risen so fast in the past two weeks despite a relative absence of physical steel demand.
"I'm skeptical about the consistency of demand," an Australia-based trader added. "Fundamental economic activity is not great."
Nonetheless, a source at another Chinese steel mill felt that if iron ore stayed strong, coking coal should also rise.
In India, spot import prices continued to be capped somewhat by discounted port stocks.
Some moderate rain is forecast in most of Eastern Australia in the next few days, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
