Coal prices retreated toward $130 per ton after surging to as high as $150 earlier in the week, as falling oil prices eased fears of prolonged global energy supply disruptions. Oil prices dropped back below $90 per barrel as the US and other major economies moved to curb energy costs. However, hostilities in the Middle East continued with no clear end in sight and the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shut. Meanwhile, the largest LNG export plant in Qatar has halted shipments for five consecutive days, the longest stretch since 2008, raising the risk of further gains in fuel prices. Supply shocks in oil and gas typically increase demand for fuel switching in the power sector. With many Asian economies reliant on Qatari LNG, the region may be forced to ramp up coal-fired power generation if the disruption persists. Coal resources are also gaining strategic importance for China, both as an energy buffer and as a key feedstock for the chemical industry.
