On July 29, the share price of Banpu Public Company Limited (SET: BANPU) at the time of 3.24 p.m. was at THB 4.78, a THB 0.16 or 3.46% increase with a total trading value of THB 192.776 million.
Meanwhile, the share price of Lanna Resources Public Company Limited (SET: LANNA) at the same time was at THB 16.70, a THB 0.20 or 1.21% increase with a total trading value of THB 4.78 million.
The share price of Asia Green Energy Public Company Limited (SET: AGE) was at THB 0.83, a THB 0.01 or 1.22% increase with a total trading value of THB 88,870.
Shares of BANPU, AGE, and LANNA surged across the board today, in alignment with Asian coal prices climbing to their highest levels since February.
The key driver behind this rally has been the extreme heat in several countries during the peak summer season, boosting electricity demand—particularly from air conditioning units.
The surge in demand is most pronounced in Japan, China, and South Korea, which are among the region’s largest coal importers. Additionally, coal inventories in many areas have continued to decline, putting further upward pressure on market prices.
Australian Newcastle coal futures have risen to $115.50 per ton, reaching their highest point since February. The latest data show that electricity generation from coal in Tokyo on July 25 hit a ten-month high, amid temperatures exceeding seasonal norms.
However, despite the recent rally, prices remain more than 75% below the 2022 peak, which was driven by the Russia-Ukraine war that sent international energy prices soaring in early that year.
Goldman Sachs analysts commented that the abnormal heat in top importing countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea may sustain higher coal demand, especially into the next quarter. The bank also noted that China’s coal inventories have seen a continuous decline since early June and currently sit below last year’s levels, potentially prompting additional coal imports in the near future.
