The slight tightening of the fly ash supply in China through January was the main impetus for the price rise this month. Production restrictions followed as a number of private coal mines in major areas started Spring Festival shutdowns ahead of schedule, however the state-owned mines continued steady production instead of raising output to make up.
Meanwhile, the waning cold wave decreased demand for electricity nationwide, reducing daily coal consumption at power plants and thus constraining fresh fly ash production. At the same time, thermal coal pricing has increased from $xx to $xx per ton, an increase of x.xxx that translated into cost increases for fly ash production.
Production was further affected by logistical constraints, as ongoing congestion at the WGQ terminals in Shanghai and limited access to YS ports delayed coal shipments, which in turn limited the availability of feedstock for power plants. The diminished...
