SINGAPORE — China’s metallurgical coal import market was stable during the week ending Dec. 21, traders told AMM sister publication Steel First.

Transactions for BHP Billiton Plc’s premium hard coking coal were reported at $173 per tonne c.f.r. China, while Xstrata AG’s premium hard coking coal offers were put at $170 per tonne.

A 90,000-tonne cargo of Australian-origin pulverized coal injection (PCI) coal for January delivery was sold at $129 per tonne c.f.r. China.

"I didn’t see many things happening this (past) week. (It’s) more or less holiday season," a Singapore-based trader said. "The number of transactions has slowed down, and generally most people have already bought a lot of tonnages."

Pricing-wise, the market has been stable, according to another Singapore-based trader. "Prices have not moved these past two weeks," he said.

There are fewer transactions as people are still waiting for stronger market cues, a trader in Rizhao added.

A version of this article was first published by AMM sister publication Steel First.