Since May of this year, the spot and futures prices of thermal coal have continued to rise. Since mid-November, due to the surge in demand, the main contract for thermal coal has risen all the way. In the middle of this month, it hit the highest point of the year of RMB 752 per ton. Signs of callback.
With the ups and downs of the futures market, what about coal?
Does the price of spot coal also fluctuate?
The reporter visited Yulin, Shaanxi, the main coal producing area.
1 Thermal coal prices hit a new high during the year, Yulin, Shaanxi, coal is produced and sold immediately
In a coal mine 320 meters above the ground, the reporter learned that the coal cut by the shearer will be transported to the raw coal warehouse through a belt, and then it will enter the coal preparation plant and be screened into lump or powder coal.
The person in charge told reporters that due to the recent strong market demand, the current inventory level has reached the lowest level this year.
Tuo Boai, director of the production dispatch command center of a coal mine enterprise in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: The inventory now accounts for less than 30% of the total storage capacity, which is basically at the lowest level. The current market demand is relatively large, and we basically sell as much as we produce.
With the advent of the coal peak season, coal prices have continued to rise.
It is understood that the current comprehensive coal price in Yulin City is about 469 yuan/ton, an increase of more than 150 yuan per ton compared to May this year, an increase of about 48%, and 110 yuan per ton higher than the same period last year.
Zhang Qing, Director of Operation Department of the Coal Trading Center of Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: At the end of the year, the coal mines will be safe to produce, and the coal mine’s production enthusiasm is not very high. In addition, the annual approved production capacity has reached a state of saturation, whether it is a coastal power plant or Port inventory is at a low level over the years.
Tuo Boai, director of the production dispatching command center of a coal mine enterprise in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: At present, our selling price is 450 yuan/ton of blended coal, but the mining cost is only 170 yuan/ton, so the current profit is still very impressive. The recent daily output is 4 10,000 to 50,000 tons, basically earning 280 yuan per ton of coal.
2 Thousands of trucks line up waiting for coal transportation capacity to be tight, coal supply exceeds demand
Coal prices continue to rise. With the advent of the peak period of coal consumption in winter, the coal market is still in short supply.
In Yulin, Shaanxi, thousands of trucks lined up in long queues, waiting for coal all night.
The coal in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province is mainly transported by trucks and railways to all parts of the country. At this truck loading point, the trucks that line up to pick up the cargo can line up six kilometers away. Although it takes only 54 seconds to load a truck, the driver actually needs Waiting in line for a long time.
Coal truck driver in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: I came here at 8 o'clock last night and waited for nearly 24 hours.
Coal truck driver in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: The efficiency is now much better than before, and the freight per ton of coal has increased by more than ten yuan.
Tuo Boai, director of the production dispatching and command center of a coal mine enterprise in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: Railway transportation is now an average of 10 trains, and 16 trains have been installed at the most. Automobile transportation is 700 to 1,000 vehicles per day.
The reporter came to a large logistics company in Yulin City. The person in charge told the reporter that since November, the daily coal output has increased from 30,000 to 50,000 tons to 80,000 tons per day, mainly to cement plants in the southwest and northern ports. And power plants in Xi'an and other places.
Due to the surge in coal production, the current capacity is very tight.
Li Rui, executive deputy general manager of a logistics company in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: The current total inventory is stable at about 500,000 tons. Compared with this year’s off-season, the average daily inventory is 200,300,000 tons, an increase of about 300,000 tons. The entire inventory The main reason for the increase is that the current coal price is still in the rising cycle, or that the coal price is still at a relatively high stage, and the surrounding traders are hoarding coal.
Coal dealer Chen Lihui told reporters that since the beginning of winter, especially in December, shipments have been basically shipped 24 hours a day, and orders have been scheduled to January next year.
Chen Lihui, a coal dealer in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: Recently, due to the increasing demand for the electric field and downstream factories, the resources on our supply and mines are relatively constant, causing demand to exceed demand.
Lu Fanjie, a coal dealer in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: I personally think that afterwards, coal prices remain stable or fall moderately, but the decline will not be too large, and it is difficult to have a large decline before the Spring Festival.
3 Yulin, Shaanxi: Thermal power plants need more coal due to cold winter, and coal prices have risen to reduce power plant profits
Most of the main increase in coal demand in winter comes from thermal power companies. Yulin City, Shaanxi Province has abundant coal resources. Under the background of rising thermal coal prices and increasing coal supply pressure, how are thermal power companies operating?
The reporter came to one of the largest thermal power plants in Yulin, Shaanxi. The waste heat generated by the power generation can provide a heat source for heating enterprises. It can be seen on the screen of the central control room that the fire in the boiler with a temperature of more than 1,000 ℃ is bright, and it runs continuously for 24 hours.
The person in charge told reporters that after the heating season, the company has changed from operating with a single unit to the start of both units.
It is estimated that 760,000 tons of coal will be used throughout the heating season, an increase of 20,000 tons over last year.
Jia Feiyun, Secretary of the Party Committee of a Thermal Power Company in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: We will reserve coal for heating and combustion in advance from September to October.
Because the temperature has dropped a lot, coal consumption has increased a lot in recent days, with daily coal consumption ranging from 5,800 to 6,000 tons.
It is understood that coal is the only heating energy source for this thermal power plant. The price of coal must be kept at more than 300 yuan per ton to achieve a break-even. The recent strong increase in coal prices has also put a lot of pressure on the company.
Jia Feiyun, Secretary of the Party Committee of a Thermal Power Company in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province: Especially in September and October, coal prices have risen rapidly, and the factory price including taxes and freight is already 518 yuan/ton, an increase of 83.4 yuan/ton compared to the same period last year , The cost of coal burning is relatively large, accounting for 57%.
Recently, the China Coal Industry Association and the China Coal Transportation and Marketing Association jointly issued a proposal to ensure safety, ensure supply, stabilize prices, and sign early, multiple, real, and long-term coal contracts.
At the same time, it is mentioned that the temperature this winter is lower than in previous years, and the demand for coal consumption has increased significantly.
Coal enterprises should scientifically organize coal production in accordance with market demand to ensure a stable supply of coal.