BEIJING, June 26 -- Under the influence of shortage of supply and boom in downstream demand, China's major pulverized coal producers will raise the selling price of pulverized coal by about 300 yuan/ton once more, Umetal.com reported.

     Price of pulverized coal has climbed constantly since this year.  The contract price was raised by 200 yuan/ton in May, and continued  rising by 150-180 yuan in June, up 43 percent from the end of 2007.

     Meanwhile, the price went up 250-300 yuan/ton in the first half of June in Shanxi and Heilongjiang provinces and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region with the sales prices at 950-1,100 yuan/ton.

     With the adjustment of 300 yuan/ton, the ex-plant price will top 1,200 yuan/ton to approach 1,300 yuan/ton.

     Insiders explained that it takes time for steel enterprises to digest the further price hike of pulverized coal.