Cement News tagged under: coal

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OPEC+ agreement and new sanctions support oil, coal rising from support levels and increasing petcoke discount

26 March 2024, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark Inflation is still playing a crucial role, as it remains stubborn and both the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are warning the markets that rates will not be cut in the speed expected last year until the two per cent targets are visible. This in combination with lower Chinese activity has rewoken the demand fear and threatened to send oil and other energy commodities lower. However, geopolitical tensions and renewed sanctions...

Pakistan cement industry exhibits record quarterly profit in 2QFY23-24

08 March 2024, Published under Cement News

Pakistan's listed cement sector reported record earnings of PKR22.4bn (US$58.18m), up eight per cent YoY in the 2QFY23-24. This earnings growth is primarily due to higher gross margins and other income. Major contributors to the profitability of the cement sector in the 2QFY23-24 were Lucky Cement (LUCK), followed by Bestway Cement (BWCL) and Fauji Cement (FCCL), according to Topline Pakistan Research, Analysts believe these achievements were made despite a fall in cement dispatches. ...

Mannok’s greater fuel flexibility

04 March 2024, Published under Cement News

As a key step in the decarbonisation of its cement plant operations, Ireland-based Mannok Cement has installed a FUELFLEX® Pyrolyzer combustion system which enables the producer to burn up to 100 per cent alternative fuels in the calciner while reducing its NOx emissions. The next obvious step for Mannok was to upgrade its coal dosing system to reduce the amount of coal going into the preheater to an absolute minimum without sacrificing flexibility. By Peter Norek, FLSmidth, Denmark. ...

FOB and ARA discounts narrow

01 March 2024, Published under Cement News

Coal stabilised on support at a level of around US$90/t, pressured by gas prices but supported by oil. Continued freight issues in the Suez Canal and the Red Sea are supported the price of oil. Petcoke FOB contracts were stable but after buying for the 1Q24 was completed, trade was low. Discounts on FOB contracts remained stable in the neutral zone, but discounts on ARA contracts fell, returning to neutral as the API2 coal price dropped. Petcoke with 6.5 per cent S is expected to continu...

Politics dominates the energy market, oil stabilises but coal drifts lower while petcoke rises on lower freight rates

20 February 2024, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark   The oil price remains subject to a risk premium due to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Providing the situation does not escalate, the market hovers around US$80. Meanwhile, the Ukraine-Russia war is still deadlocked, but the political stage in Europe and potential US election is lurking, making negotiations more likely. In the financial markets both the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve have kept rates unchanged and have a two pe...

FOB discounts fall while ARA discounts return to neutral

29 January 2024, Published under Cement News

Coal fell sharply below US$100, due to weak demand and large stocks, on 22 January 2024, while oil hovered around the US$80/bbl mark as freight issues in the Suez Canal and the Red Sea supported oil prices. Petcoke FOB contracts recovered from December lows as demand forecast for 1Q24 and 2Q24 shows an upward trend and discounts were increasing until weaker coal prices emerged. Discounts on FOB contracts declined and ARA discounts returned to neutral from an earlier spell in the cheap zone...

Energy complex continued lower with petcoke seeing new lows and higher discounts

23 January 2024, Published under Cement News

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark The energy complex fell further in December but recovered by the end of 2023. In geopolitical terms, the Israel-Gaza conflict has seen increased risk of spreading and ship attacks in the Red Sea from Houthi terrorists in Yemen increased risk for oil and good shipping. A western UN-backed naval force has put an ultimatum and when attacks stop this would take some support away. The Ukraine-Russia war remains largely frozen, but hints of so...

Red Sea crisis on Pakistan’s cement industry

18 January 2024, Published under Cement News

Pakistan closely monitors the Red Sea crisis as it could disturb the movement of cement export cargoes to the USA and Europe as well as affect coal imports at Pakistani ports. It is also feared that any trade re-route would spark new inflation and supply chain disruption worldwide and in Pakistan. IMS Research, in a situation review report, warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East have begun to exert a notable influence on global trade, with Yemeni Houthi actions targeting commerc...

Afghan coal price surge impacts northern Pakistan cement production costs

08 January 2024, Published under Cement News

A spike in Afghan coal prices has affected the cost of cement production in northern Pakistan. JS Research reports that the northern-based cement companies, which operate 20 of the 26 production lines in Pakistan, are facing the challenge of high production costs due to a recent rise in imported coal prices. The cost trade-off between Afghan and international coal remains dynamic, leading to difficulties for the industry. The northern region players face costs of around PKR53,000/t  (US$188....

FOB discounts decrease but ARA discounts up

29 December 2023, Published under Cement News

Coal, along with oil fell to US$100 on 21 December 2023, and OPEC+ introduced new cuts to support oil at US$75-80. However, oil rose due to naval attacks in the Red Sea and trouble in the Suez Canal. Petcoke FOB contracts collapsed as freight rallied making CFR prices expensive.There was also a lack of interest from far destinations. The discount on FOB contracts increased but fell on ARA contracts. Petcoke discount falls (21 December 2023) Petcoke with 6.5 per cent S is exp...