SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts to discontinue daily US FOB thermal coal assessments

Platts has decided to discontinue its daily FOB assessments for US physical thermal coal that run in Coal Trader and Coal Trader International.

The low-price environment for seaborne thermal coal has significantly reduced spot export transaction liquidity.

The affected codes are: FOB US EAST COAST (Basis 6,500 kcal/kg NAR, 1% sulfur) CUFEC00, CSDAA00 FOB USGC EASTERN COAL (Basis 6,000 kcal/kg NAR, 3%S) CUFGC00, CSDAB00 FOB USGC WESTERN COAL (Basis 5,000 kcal/kg GAR, 0.50%S) CUFGD00, CSDAC00 FOB CANADA/US WEST COAST (Basis 5,000 kcal/kg GAR, 0.50%S) CUFCN00, CSDDC00

To continue to provide daily price information, Platts will replace the assessments with a netback table showing delivered overseas prices less ocean freight in the belief it would better illustrate export pricing opportunities and arbitrage.

FOB US East Coast (basis 6,500 kcal/kg NAR, 1% sulfur) will show the heat-adjusted daily netback to CIF ARA coal (basis 6,000 kcal/kg NAR, 1% sulfur), converted to $/st.

Please address any questions or comments by March 31 to coal@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.