Shanghai, 22 November (Argus) — Coastal freight rates for vessels shipping domestic coal from north Chinese ports to utilities in the east and south coastal regions have reached a 3½-month low amid sluggish demand from utilities. Freight rates for 50,000-60,000t vessels loading coal cargoes at the key transshipment hub of Qinhuangdao port and discharging at Guangzhou port in south China were at 43 yuan/t ($6.20/t)yesterday, according to the Shanghai shipping exchange (SSE). The rate was the lowest since 7 August. Rates for 40,000-50,000t vessels operating on the Qinhuangdao-Shanghai route were at Yn31.30/t yesterday, the SSE said. This was unchanged from 19 November and the lowest since 6 August. Most coastal utilities in China have already built up inventories earlier than last year, ahead of the peak winter demand season. Combined stocks at coastal utilities reached 17.62mn t on 20 November, the highest since 1 March 2013 and sufficient for 33 days use. Coal consumption at coastal utilities has fallen, partly because of the country's policy of shifting coal-fired power generation to China's coal-rich north and west regions. Average daily coal consumption at coastal utilities dropped by 4pc from a year earlier to 767,000 t/d in August. Coal use in September and October registered greater falls of 10pc and 20pc respectively against a year earlier to 638,000 t/d and 516,000 t/d. Coal consumption averaged 514,000 t/d during 1-21 November, down by 12pc from the same period last year. Utility restocking of domestic material could potentially rebound, if firmer winter demand sets in at a time when authorities have imposed stricter import restrictions. This could potentially support coastal freight rates. The Chinese government has ordered coastal utilities to report each cargo they intend to import during the rest of this year, as annual import quotas are running out quickly. Several utilities have even been asked not to take any more imported cargoes before the lunar new year holiday in early February. Firmer winter demand has already begun for power plants in north China. Coal consumption at coastal utilities, mostly in east and south China, rose by 3pc from a week earlier to an average of 534,000 t/d in the week to 21 November.
A drop in coastal coal demand has seen domestic Chinese freight rates slip to their lowest since early August, as northern utilities have already built up winter inventories prior to the peak demand season. The country's policy to shift coal-fired power plants to northern and western regions, closer to coal sources, also contributed to the 4% YoY drop in consumption to 767,000 metric tonnes per day (mt/d) in August. China's coal imports fell by a record amount of 4.9%, or 1.35 million tonnes, from July to August this year, according to official data released on Thursday. However, analysts said stronger winter demand could see an uptick in freight rates.