• Summary and Scoreboard — A need-to-know summary of the International Thermal Coal Market Outlook, with a quick-reference scoreboard. Don’t have time for a detailed read? Here are all the essentials right on the front page.

• Monthly Recap — Where you are going has a lot to do with where you already are. PIRA provides the complete update on what happened over the past month, distilling the key market movers from the noise.

• Global Coal Demand — Leveraging PIRA’s analysis of downstream electricity markets, this section takes an in-depth look at the demand of major thermal coal consumers in the Atlantic and Pacific basins. The section includes analysis of weather, inter-fuel substitution, and a guide to developments in market fundamentals.

• Global Coal Production — This section examines the latest monthly data from the top six global producers: China, U.S., India, Australia, South Africa and Russia. The section also looks at new mining activity and developments that will affect future coal production.

• Coal Trade and Shipping — Analyzing shipping markets and rail and port capacities is critical to constructing a global assessment of coal markets. PIRA’s analysis goes even further, studying coal stocks at key ports throughout the world, the latest trade data, and outlook for dry bulk freight markets.

• Thermal Coal Prices and Sensitivities — Current market prices, shipping spreads and forwards, and details on PIRA’s price forecasts for Northwest Europe (CIF ARA), North America (NYMEX) and Japan (CIF Japan), as well as FOB prices in Australia (FOB Newcastle) and South Africa (FOB Richards Bay). This section explains the market opportunities and risks as they develop through the 12-18 month strip.

• Regional coal production and net exports (by region)
• Regional coal demand for power and other sectors
• Power sector coal stocks
• Coal price forecasts for NYMEX, Illinois Basin and Powder River Basin

3. Weekly Scorecard
The Weekly Scorecard summarizes important developments in international coal markets during the intervening weeks between the monthly reports. More than just a recap, the Scorecard concentrates on market fundamentals affecting coal prices over the next 90 days.

4. Current Issues Bulletins
These one-off reports provide clients with briefs on important issues confronting international coal markets. They include a higher level of detail and currency on relevant topics affecting both the long- and short-term outlook.

5. Online Database Access
The International Coal Service clients are able to access a special online data portal, providing regular updates on coal production, consumption, trade, coal prices and shipping rates, port information and over 2,000 shipping distances. Clients are also able to examine coal netbacks to producer ports of origin based both on latest trade data and user inputs, while utilizing a conversion calculator to facilitate quick comparisons between different coal grades and alternative fuels.

5. Slide Presentations
Retainer clients of the International Coal Service are also able to access PIRA’s macroeconomic slide presentations — covering developments in North America, Europe and Asia — as well as regularly updated International Coal Service slide material. The slide presentations go considerably beyond the monthly report charts, providing additional coverage on electricity-sector coal demand, supply, trade, and global weather and price comparisons.

6. Access to PIRA Staff
One-on-one interaction between our clients and our energy analysts is one of the cornerstones of PIRA’s Retainer Services. As such, PIRA also provides access to the PIRA Coal Markets Group so clients can discuss particular issues that are relevant to their individual company.