Press Release
globalCOAL Hosts SCoTA Forum in Tokyo
LONDON AND SINGAPORE – 25 February 2010
globalCOAL® announced today that it will be hosting a discussion forum with major Japanese coal market participants in Tokyo on Friday 5th of March. The forum will discuss the incorporation of a CIF JAPAN Relevant Standard Specification (RSS) to globalCOAL’s Standard Coal Trading Agreement (SCoTA®) – the world’s most prolifically traded international coal contract.
The CIF JAPAN contract will standardise coal specifications from China, Indonesia, Russia, Australia and South Africa and will be priced on the basis 6,000 kcal/kg NAR with delivery to the Western Setouchi area of Japan. The price of coal for deliveries to areas outside Western Setouchi will be adjusted back to Western Setouchi as the reference point.
The benefits of the CIF Japan contract to the Japanese coal consumers are:
1. An additional procurement option to help optimise the management of coal and freight requirements
2. An alternative price reference specifically designed and directly affected by the conditions of the Japanese market
3. A reliable, transparent index based on real time bids, offers and trades
4. A reliable index to help coal consumers manage price risk exposure using derivatives
5. Potential arbitrage opportunities with FOB contracts
“This is a significant step towards a broader participation of Japanese coal consumers and trading houses in international spot markets”, said James Meredith, SCoTA Contract Manager for globalCOAL. “The feedback gathered at this discussion forum will be instrumental in delivering a tradeable contract which could be launched by the end of the year.”
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