Commodity Specification Library
Indicative contract specifications for the bulk grades that actually trade — typical values, reject limits, basis and test methods. Always price against the specific contract and independent assay.
The benchmark low-CV Indonesian sub-bituminous grade for Indian and Chinese blending demand. High moisture, low ash, low sulphur.
| Parameter | Typical | Reject | Basis | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross CV (GAR) | 4,200 kcal/kg | below 4,000 | ARB | ASTM D5865 |
| Total moisture | 34–38 % | above 40 % | ARB | ASTM D3302 |
| Inherent moisture | 14–18 % | — | ADB | ASTM D3173 |
| Ash | 4–6 % | above 8 % | ARB | ASTM D3174 |
| Total sulphur | 0.2–0.6 % | above 1.0 % | ARB | ASTM D4239 |
| Volatile matter | 38–42 % | — | ADB | ASTM D3175 |
| Fixed carbon | by difference | — | ADB | — |
| HGI | 45–55 | — | — | ASTM D409 |
| Ash fusion (IDT) | above 1,150 °C | — | — | ASTM D1857 |
| Size | 0–50 mm, 90 % min | — | — | — |
- Priced on GAR; a 100 kcal/kg CV shortfall typically costs 1/42nd of the base price pro rata.
- Group B under the IMSBC Code — self-heating and methane emission; CO monitoring required.
- Indonesian benchmark price (HBA) governs royalty and, for domestic obligations, minimum export pricing.
Overview & methodology
Using contract specifications
Bulk commodity trades are priced against a written contract specification with a "typical" quality band and a "reject" limit at which the buyer can refuse the cargo or claim a price adjustment. This library summarises the market-standard bands for the grades that trade most frequently — coal, coke, iron ore, fertiliser, grains and softs — so traders and operators have a quick reference before drafting or checking a certificate of analysis.
Every parcel should still be priced and settled against its own signed contract and an independent load-port assay; typical values here are a starting point, not a substitute for the deal terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical specification for steam coal?
Indonesian 4200 GAR runs about 4,200 kcal/kg GAR, 35% total moisture, 5% ash and 0.3% sulphur; Australian 6000 NAR runs 6,322 kcal/kg GAR, 12% total moisture, 14% ash and 0.6% sulphur. Rejection limits are usually set a few hundred kcal below the base CV and one to two points above the base ash and sulphur.