China's ban on Australian coking coal to benefit India's steel producers, says India Ratings and Research
Dec 26, 2020, 14:28 IST
New Delhi, The production cost of India's steel producers using the blast furnace route would remain contained in the near term due to China's ban on Australian coking coal, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said.
Accordingly, the Chinese move will lead to softer coking coal prices which shall directly support EBITDA per tonne accretion of around Rs 2,600 over FY21 for companies using the blast furnace route.
"Such companies are likely to have reduced cost of steel production by around ₹1,800 per tonne YoY in 2HFY21, supported by the reduced cost of coking coal per tonne of around ₹7,300," Ind-Ra said in a report.
As per Ind-Ra, China's ban has led to negative bias on coking coal prices.
It expects Australia premium hard coking coal (HCC) CNF prices would be around $120 per tonne over remaining FY21, except for any weather-related supply disruptions in Australia.
"Despite China's healthy steel production growth of 7% YoY in the first 7MFY21, its coking coal imports have significantly reduced by 12% as against an increase of 14% YoY in FY20, reflecting the country's increased reliance on domestic coking coal.
"Considering the low coking coal imports by China in 7MFY21 and a possible further reduction amid China's ban on Australian coking coal, an excess supply would build-up unless Australian miners reduce their output considerably.
"Hence, Ind-Ra understands coking coal prices would remained soft although other major coking coal importers such as India, Japan and South Korea's production levels have recovered them to pre-covid levels," Ind-Ra added.
Lately, China and Australia were the largest coking coal trade partners in the world.
China's imports and Australia's exports, respectively, form 40% and 65% of the world's overall coking coal trade.
"India and China have been the largest consumers of Australian coking coal, competing with each other and composing 25% and 24% respectively, of Australia's total metallurgical coal exports."
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Accordingly, the Chinese move will lead to softer coking coal prices which shall directly support EBITDA per tonne accretion of around Rs 2,600 over FY21 for companies using the blast furnace route.
"Such companies are likely to have reduced cost of steel production by around ₹1,800 per tonne YoY in 2HFY21, supported by the reduced cost of coking coal per tonne of around ₹7,300," Ind-Ra said in a report.
As per Ind-Ra, China's ban has led to negative bias on coking coal prices.
It expects Australia premium hard coking coal (HCC) CNF prices would be around $120 per tonne over remaining FY21, except for any weather-related supply disruptions in Australia.
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"Considering the low coking coal imports by China in 7MFY21 and a possible further reduction amid China's ban on Australian coking coal, an excess supply would build-up unless Australian miners reduce their output considerably.
"Hence, Ind-Ra understands coking coal prices would remained soft although other major coking coal importers such as India, Japan and South Korea's production levels have recovered them to pre-covid levels," Ind-Ra added.
Lately, China and Australia were the largest coking coal trade partners in the world.
China's imports and Australia's exports, respectively, form 40% and 65% of the world's overall coking coal trade.
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"As Chinese end-users are likely to increase their domestic coal production or import coking coal from countries such as Indonesia, Russia, Canada and the US, Indian buyers would gain more bargaining power with Australian coking coal."India and China have been the largest consumers of Australian coking coal, competing with each other and composing 25% and 24% respectively, of Australia's total metallurgical coal exports."
SEE ALSO:
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There are one of only 17 Indian companies out of 500 that aced the Du Pont test
Wipro offers 10% more to buy back shares and signs a $700 million deal with Metro AG – everything that’s driving the IT services stock higher today