Washington (Platts)--7Nov2012/836 pm EST/136 GMT

Central Appalachian thermal coal prices were assessed modestly lower on Wednesday, with barge contracts trading along the 2013 curve and rail (CSX) contracts largely trading in the spot market.

CAPP barge was the most actively traded product in the US over-the-counter market for a second straight session. Quarterly prices for 2013 opened modestly lower from Tuesday's assessments, before settling higher.

Q1 2013 traded at $61/st for five barges twice, at $61.25/st for 10 barges, at $61.50/st for five barges twice, and at $61.55/st for five barges. Platts assessed the price at $61.55/st, down 5 cents.

Q2 2013 traded at $63.40/st for five barges twice, at $63.50/st for five barges, at $64/st for five barges twice, and at $63.75/st for five barges. Platts assessed the price at $63.75/st, down 25 cents.

Q3 2013 traded at $65.75/st for five barges, at $66/st for five barges twice, at $66.15/st for five barges, and at $65.95/st for five barges. The contract fell 40 cents to $65.95/st.

Q4 2013 traded at $68.50/st for five barges twice. The contract was seen trading as low as $68.70/st on Tuesday.

At the front of the curve, December traded at $59.50/st for five barges and 10 barges. The price was assessed the same, down 50 cents.

In the CSX market, the spot December and Q1 2013 swaps accounted for most of the trading volume.

CSX financial December traded at $66.25/st and at $66.30/st, each for 10,000 st. The swap later traded at $66.15/st for 11,000 st and 10,000 st. December physical traded at $66.25/st for one train twice. Platts assessed the physical price at $65.90/st, down 20 cents.

CSX financial Q1 2013 traded at $66.25/st for 5,000 st three times, and at $66.50/st for 5,000 st twice. The physical price was assessed at $66.60/st, down 5 cents.

CSX financial Q1 2013 over Q2 2013 traded at minus 90 cents/st for 10,000 st. In the West, the front month accounted for all the volume.

Powder River Basin 8,800-Btu/lb physical December traded at $10/st for one train four times.

PRB 8,800 financial December traded at $9.95/st for 15,000 st. The physical price was assessed at $10/st, down 5 cents/st.

US Gulf Coast Eastern-origin (6,000 kcal/kg NAR 3% sulfur) was assessed down 25 cents/mt to $50.50/mt.

US East Coast thermal coal (6,500 kcal/kg NAR 1% sulfur) was assessed unchanged at $90.75/mt.

US Gulf Coast Western-origin (5,000 kcal/kg GAR 0.5% sulfur) was assessed unchanged at $39/mt.

FOB Canada/US West Coast Western-origin (5,000 kcal/kg GAR 0.5% sulfur) was assessed unchanged at $60.75/mt.

--Charlie Noh, chang_noh@platts.com --Edited by Jeff Barber, jeff_barber@platts.com