Expectations of resilient coal demand in China, the world's largest consumer and importer of the fuel, could delay a peak in global coal use, envisaged under climate goals, as miners supply coal for longer at competitive prices, traders say. Six Chinese traders Reuters spoke to said they expected harsh weather to drive overall imports higher in the last quarter of 2023. So I think Chinese demand growth is going to steady at where it is," a seventh trader from a large international trading firm said. It was the first global conference for many Chinese traders whose overseas travel was restricted due to strict Covid restrictions. Echeverri said a fall in average calorific value - an indicator of quality - of domestically mined coal was also contributing to the higher imports.

---

Persons: Rodrigo Echeverri, Ramli Ahmad, Ombilin Energi, Ahmad, Echeverri, Sudarshan, Ros Russell Organizations: Traders, Indonesia, Noble Research, Thomson Locations: NUSA DUA, Indonesia, China, Bali's Nusa Dua