Mild Increase In Coal Expected - Yicai

China coal prices could see a mild increase in the near term as the industry fills up storage capacity in preparation for winter, Lin Boqiang, dean at the China Energy Policy Research Institute at Xiamen University, told Yicai. The paper noted coal prices have bottomed out and seen a 5% rebound since late August. Lin said although prices may rise further, a return to high price levels seen last year remains unlikely. Xu Hui, secretary of the board of directors at Hengding Industrial, told Yicai rising commodities abroad have driven the recent rise in coal prices, along with domestic manufacturing and exports performing well. Additionally, authorities' recent introduction of output-restriction policies had also affected coal prices. (Source: Yicai)