The economic situation of coal in 2013 is not optimistic. Some business people generally believe that the current economy has yet to bottom, and the signs are rather complex. From the perspective of the coal market, coal production capacity is gradually being released, but there will be no significant increase in demand.
In terms of the traditional market, January is the annual peak sales season and the price of coal is at the market highs. However, apart from the price of stream coal risen by about US$3.00 - 5.00 per ton, there had been little rise in the overall price of coal. At present, coal power plants hold an average inventory of about 15 days - 20 days and are not worried about the supply of coal. From now to March should be a period of ease, after which coal prices may fall again.

China's coal industry will be in the buyer's market for the long-term. The last three years in the 12th 5-Year-Plan will see a concentrated release of  coal production capacity with an estimated average release of 400 to 500 million tons per year when annual rise in consumption is about 200 million tons, resulting in a very grim situation of oversupply. In addition, from 2011, China has seen an annual influx of over 200 million tons of imported coal. In the seller's market, the pros and cons of the share of resources, the level of production efficiency and cost control may contribute to how much the seller makes. But in the buyer's market, these factors become “determining factors of life and death".

With increased industrial concentration and the arrival of market turning point, the competition in the market will be mainly among large coal corporations; competitions will be more brutal and last much longer. The strong ones will get stronger and the weak ones weaker, those with low efficiency and poor resources will be eliminated.