Premium PLV coal delivered to China rose to

, marking a

. The same grade on a CFR basis to India climbed to

, showing a stronger

.

FOB prices at Russian ports also strengthened. High-quality Zh-grade coking coal in Far Eastern ports increased by 4.5% since the beginning of the year to

. In the Azov–Black Sea basin, prices rose by 6.8% to

, while shipments via the Gulf of Finland saw a 7.6% gain to

. Year-on-year growth at these locations reached 13%, 8.8%, and 6.9%, respectively.

The price momentum has been supported by global supply and demand factors. Flooding in Australia led to delays in January shipment schedules, tightening availability in the seaborne market. At the same time, Chinese consumers have been building inventories ahead of national holidays, underpinning demand. On the western trade route, signs of recovering demand from India have emerged, while lower freight rates have further supported trade flows.