By Colleen Howe
BEIJING (Reuters) - Tougher U.S. sanctions on Russia's coal firms will keep global prices of high-calorific-value coal high in the near term, affecting a fifth of the latter's coal exports, a Chinese industry group warned on Wednesday.
Sanctions imposed last month by Washington specifically cite top exporters Suek and Mechel among broad targets ranging from payment systems to financial institutions and energy production.
Lower Russian exports could help allay oversupply fears and reduce pressure on prices, amid projections of tepid growth in shipments by major importers China and India, and higher exports by top coal exporter Indonesia.
Russia's coal export tariffs that took effect from the beginning of this month will also affect supply to China, one of its largest trade partners, said Su Huipeng, an analyst at the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association.
March exports of coal from Russia are set to hit their lowest in at least seven years, ship tracking data from Kpler showed.
China's tariffs of 3% to 6% imposed this year on imports of coal from countries that do not have trade pacts with Beijing would also affect key suppliers, including Russia, though the costs will mostly be borne by sellers, Su told a virtual seminar.
Higher freight rates will also support international prices of coal, she added.