Total coal imports to Southeast Asia is expected to hit 127 million mt in 2019, up 27% from 2018, with demand driven by existing and upcoming coal-fired power plants. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts Asia thermal coal editors Fred Wang, Jenny Ma, and Huimin Lee explain the rationale behind Platts' decision to launch the Southeast Asia thermal coal (SEAT) assessment that reflects prices of thermal coal delivered to the region. The team also shares how Platts captures the price differential for loading cargoes onto gearless vessels in the Kalimantan region, offering a basis of comparison for an accurate and reliable price assessment.