Chinese Coal Jumps Over 6% on Pre-Holiday Supply

China's thermal coal futures soared more than 6 per cent, hitting a level last seen in late November as investors grew concerned over tight supply ahead of a national holiday when coal mines typically slow operations or shut down.

The most-active thermal coal futures contract on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange-traded up 6.6% at 774.8 yuan (US$122.06) a tonne.

The rally is in line with the upward trend on the spot market, with benchmark prices for 5,500 kilocal coal at northern ports having gained 18 per cent so this year to 935 yuan a tonne as of Tuesday, data tracked by China Coal Transportation and Distribution (CCTD) showed.

"Despite steady operations at big coal mines, a few small-sized mines have shut down for holiday in the major mining province of Shaanxi," said analysts from Huatai Futures said in a note, adding that supply was tight at ports.

Private firms in China, including coal mines, typically shut down one week or more ahead of the Lunar New Year, kicking off on Jan 30 this year and when hundreds of millions of workers travel back to their hometowns.

Coal inventories at coastal ports fell to their lowest level since early October at 47.82 million tonnes this week, CCTD data showed, although the current level remains higher than the same period last year of 44.89 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, a cold snap is expected to hit northern China during the week of Lunar New Year celebration, which could drive up coal consumption at utilities.