Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-10-20 05:32Group 1 - The coal sector in China is experiencing strong demand for thermal coal as the country enters the critical winter preparation season in October [1][2] - Significant price increases have been observed in the thermal coal market, with prices in the Yulin region rising by 20 RMB/ton to a range of 595-620 RMB/ton, marking a 3.4% increase since the end of September [2] - The demand for coal is being driven by the need for stockpiling ahead of winter, with major coal-consuming enterprises increasing their procurement activities [3] Group 2 - The domestic coal production is expected to remain tight due to adverse weather conditions and regulatory measures aimed at curbing overproduction, leading to cautious production levels among coal mines [2] - As of early October, coal inventory levels at major power plants in Shandong have decreased, indicating strong demand, with available days of coal supply dropping by 2.87 days compared to the end of September [3] - The overall supply-demand balance in the coal market may initially tighten before showing signs of improvement, with potential price pressures emerging as costs for downstream coal-consuming enterprises rise [3]