China Coal Prices Surge After Deadly Mine Blast
Listen to the full version
Coking coal futures in China surged to an 18-month high on Tuesday after a deadly gas explosion at a mine in Shanxi province triggered sweeping production halts and intensified safety inspections across the country’s top coal-producing region.
The most-active coking coal contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange climbed as high as 1,330 yuan ($196) a ton on Tuesday before closing at 1,260 yuan, up 5.09% on the day. It had already risen 7.97% in the previous session. Spot prices also increased, with coking coal in Lüliang, Shanxi, up 100 yuan on Monday to 1,700 yuan a ton.
Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.
Save an extra $50. Introductory offer for new readers. Subscribe now.
- RELATED
- DIGEST HUB
Digest Hub
Back
- Coking coal futures hit 18-month high (1,330 yuan/ton) after Shanxi mine explosion caused 82 deaths, triggering production halts and safety inspections.
- Suspicious overproduction: mine likely operated dual faces, 103 miners lacked positioning devices; actual output may triple approved limit.
- Shanxi halted 109 coking coal mines (122M tons capacity); imports from Mongolia rose 80% in Q1 to offset supply tightness.
- Tongzhou Group
- Tongzhou Group is a private conglomerate specializing in mining, washing, coking, and chemicals. It controls the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi, which had a fatal gas explosion. Following the incident, all four of its coal mines (total capacity 4 million tons/year) suspended operations due to safety inspections.
- Before May 2026：
- China's coal imports from Mongolia rose 80% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026.
- Early May 2026：
- The pithead price of 6,000-kilocalorie coal in Yulin, Shaanxi province, was at a level that later increased by 2.7% by May 26, 2026.
- Friday, May 23, 2026：
- A deadly gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Qinyuan county, Shanxi province, with 247 workers underground. All four coal mines under Tongzhou Group suspended operations following the incident.
- Saturday, May 24, 2026：
- Authorities confirmed 82 deaths, two missing, and 128 hospitalized with injuries from the explosion. The final toll has not yet been verified.
- Monday, May 26, 2026：
- Coking coal futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange rose 7.97% in the previous session (this date is implied as Monday). Spot prices for coking coal in Lüliang, Shanxi, increased by 100 yuan to 1,700 yuan a ton. The pithead price of 6,000-kilocalorie coal in Yulin, Shaanxi province, rose 10 yuan a ton from Friday, May 23, 2026. As of Monday morning, 109 coking coal mines in Shanxi had suspended production, representing 122 million tons of capacity, according to a Mysteel survey.
- Tuesday, May 27, 2026：
- Coking coal futures in China surged to an 18-month high, with the most-active contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange climbing as high as 1,330 yuan ($196) a ton before closing at 1,260 yuan, up 5.09% on the day.
- MOST POPULAR
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook
Sign in with 财新