Freight rates to ship coal from northern China's Qinhuangdao port to the other Chinese ports of Zhangjiagang, Shanghai and Guangzhou rose in the week ended October 29 for the fourth week in a row, Qinhuangdao Port said.

The freight rates from Qinhuangdao to Zhangjiagang for 20,000-30,000 mt capacity vessels averaged Yuan 63.0/mt ($10.3/mt) in the week ended October 29, up Yuan 2.80/mt week on week, the report said.

The Qinhuangdao-Shanghai route for vessels with a capacity of 40,000-50,000 mt edged up Yuan 0.70/mt over the same period to an average of Yuan 58.60/mt, while the freight rate from Qinhuangdao to Guangzhou on 50,000-60,000 mt vessels rose Yuan 1.50/mt to Yuan 66.0/mt.

Meanwhile, coal stocks at Qinhuangdao port stood at 5.37 million mt October 30, down from 5.73 million mt a week earlier, port figures showed. This compares with 6 million mt on October 16, 6.26 million mt on October 9 and 6.15 million mt on October 2.