Supply constraints, exports seen trumping demand loss; gas a wild card

摘要

Despite more than 4,000 MW of coal-fired utility capacity slated to be retired or mothballed, most sector analysts continue to expect an increase in Eastern coal prices through 2011 and beyond due to supply constraints stemming from heightened federal scrutiny of mining and rising exports of US thermal coal. But market observers mention continued loss of utility demand, sluggish economic growth, and cheap natural gas prices as bearish (continued on page 9) factors that could weigh on the market.