China coal prices held near record highs on Thursday as cold weather swept into the country’s north and power plants stocked up on the fuel to ease an energy crunch that is fuelling unprecedented factory gate inflation. A widening power crisis in China – caused by shortages of coal, record-high fuel prices, and booming post-pandemic industrial demand as it shifts to greener fuels – has halted production at numerous factories including many supplying big global brands such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O). read more Soaring energy prices sent producer prices to their highest in at least 25 years in September, rising 10.7% from a year earlier, official data showed on Thursday. read more Cold winter weather is likely to worsen the situation. China’s […]