Washington (Platts)--7Dec2012/719 pm EST/019 GMT

Powder River Basin 8,800-Btu/lb thermal coal prices for 2013 were mixed Friday, as trading volumes dropped sharply from the previous day's high levels.

CME ClearPort cleared 135 PRB 8,800 swap contracts Friday, down from 2,535 cleared swap contracts in the prior session. Net open interest increased by 315 contracts Thursday.

By volume, the January swap was the most actively traded product there.

PRB 8,800 financial January traded at $9.50/st for 75,000 st and 15,000 st.

In the physical market, PRB 8,800 physical January traded at $9.55/st for three trains, at $9.45/st for two trains, and at $9.40/st for one train. The trade prices were influenced by the train size, a market source said. Platts assessed the January contract at $9.40/st, down 5 cents/st.

PRB 8,800 physical over financial Q1 2013 traded at 15 cents/st for one train over 15,000 st. The Q1 2013 physical price was assessed at $9.70/st, up 5 cents/st.

PRB 8,800 physical Q2 2013 traded at $10.35/st for one train. Platts assessed the price the same, up 15 cents/st.

In the East, Central Appalachian coal prices also closed mixed in a light trading session.

In the CAPP rail (CSX) paper market, Q2 2013 traded at $67/st for 10,000 st. The physical price was assessed at $67.10/st, unchanged.

CSX financial Q2 2013 over Q3 2013 traded at minus $2/st for 10,000 st.

CSX financial Q3 2013 traded at $69/st for 5,000 st three times, at $68.95/st for 5,000 st. Platts assessed the physical price at $69/st, down 15 cents/st.

CSX financial Q3 2013 over Q4 2013 traded at minus $2/st, and at minus $1.90/st, each for 5,000 st.

In CAPP barge, Q3 2013 traded at $67/st for five barges. The price was assessed at $67/st, up 20 cents/st.

Q4 2013 traded at $69.05/st for five barges.

On the IntercontinentalExchange, PRB 8,800 January futures were framed at $9.35-$9.40/st, each for 5,000 st.

US Gulf Coast Eastern-origin (6,000 kcal/kg NAR 3% sulfur) was assessed unchanged at $56/mt.

US East Coast thermal coal (6,500 kcal/kg NAR 1% sulfur) was assessed $1/mt lower to $89.75/mt.

US Gulf Coast Western-origin (5,000 kcal/kg GAR 0.5% sulfur) was assessed unchanged at $37/mt.

FOB Canada/US West Coast Western-origin (5,000 kcal/kg GAR 0.5% sulfur) was assessed unchanged at $59/mt.

--Charlie Noh, chang_noh@platts.com --Edited by Carla Bass, carla_bass@platts.com