The lack of availability in high vol A is expected to lend support to miners with high vol B volumes to offer.

The firm is still investigating a high gas level incident that closed Moranbah North on 20 February.

China imported 3.57mn t of coking coal last month, down by 4pc from 3.72mn t in November.

Japan's coking coal imports rose in December to an eight-month high on increased shipments from Indonesia, underpinned by the strong recovery of Japan's steel industry.

US coking coal prices strengthened further early last week, buoyed by supply tightness across segments and strong demand from Chinese mills for low-volatile coals stretching into March next year.

The Atlantic coking coal market is quiet this week, as several participants expected to take a wait-and-see approach until after summer.

US coking coal prices have been flat to slightly stronger early this week ahead of current third-quarter spot requirements in Europe closing.

US coking coal mining firms were put in a position of running up high inventories at the start of the third quarter.