SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts proposes to stop publishing Oak Grove US hard coking coal relative price

S&P Global Platts is proposing to discontinue publication of the Oak Grove US hard coking coal brand assessment, effective April 1, 2020.

Javelin Global Commodities, the exclusive marketer of the coal, confirmed that the Alabama-based mine producing the coal was idled during the fourth quarter of 2019.

There has been no information provided by operator Murray Met Coal and parent companies Murray Energy and Javelin on whether the mine is to restart.

Under the proposed discontinuation of April 1, the last Oak Grove assessment is due to be published on March 24, 2020.

In the meantime, Platts will continue to assess Oak Grove spot pricing based on its typical specifications and with reference to Australian premium HCC prices.

Platts will continue to publish assessments for the remaining brands – Beckley, Blue Creek No. 7, Blue Creek No. 4, Buchanan, and Windber.

The assessment is published in the US Metallurgical Coal Relativities table on page 9 of the Steel Markets Daily publication, page 8 of Coal Trader International publication, and page 6 of Coal Trader publication.

It also appears on the pages PMA 1065, 1066 of the Platts Metals Alert, in the Platts Market Center and in the Platts price database under the following codes: (weekly code), MCAPA04 (monthly average), MCAPA03.

Please submit any feedback, comments or questions about this proposal by February 21 to pl_cokingcoal@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by S&P Global Platts for public viewing.

S&P Global Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.