Coal prices eased after a six-day rally.<\/p>\n
According to Refinitiv, coal prices on Monday (24\/8\/2026) closed at\nUS$138.4 per tonne, down 0.65%.<\/p>\n
This decline broke the positive trend in coal prices, which had\nstrengthened by 4.3% over the previous six consecutive days.<\/p>\n
The weakening of coal was caused by falling oil prices and still-weak\ndemand.<\/p>\n
Oil prices fell 6% over two consecutive days. Oil and coal are\nsubstitute commodities, so their prices influence each other.<\/p>\n
The easing of coal prices was also caused by still-limited\ndemand.<\/p>\n
Thermal coal prices at mine mouths in China continued to strengthen\neven as electricity consumption began to ease. The increase was mainly\nsupported by reduced mine production ahead of the end of the month and\nrestocking activity by downstream buyers.<\/p>\n
Supply was tightened because a number of mines reduced production\nahead of the end of August. This condition kept thermal coal\navailability in China\u2019s domestic market tight.<\/p>\n
However, on the demand side, electricity loads began to decline after\nthe peak summer period, so coal consumption by power plants also started\nto ease.<\/p>\n
Sxcoal also reported that thermal coal prices at northern Chinese\nports rose, even though end-user demand remained weak.<\/p>\n
The price increase was mainly supported by tight cargo supply and\nrising costs, giving sellers room to raise prices.<\/p>\n
In general, prices rose not because Chinese demand was strong, but\nbecause costs and tight supply kept prices from falling.<\/p>\n
Nearly 200 activists from the \u2018Make America Healthy Again\u2019 (MAHA)\nmovement criticised President Donald Trump for promoting the use of coal\nto supply electricity to AI data centres.<\/p>\n
In a letter to Trump, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and a\nnumber of cabinet officials, they asked the government to consider\nrenewable energy such as solar and geothermal.<\/p>\n
The MAHA group believes that data centre development could increase\nelectricity bills, deplete water supplies, and worsen air and noise\npollution.<\/p>\n
This stance is a sign of the widening gap between Kennedy\u2019s\nsupporters and the Trump administration on environmental issues. On the\nother hand, Trump considers data centres important for winning the AI\nrace with China as well as creating jobs and tax revenue.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trump-faces-protests-over-coal-prices-fall-after-six-day-rally-1787705504", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }