* China's March coal imports bounce 15.6 pct on the year
* Stronger demand to support Australian, S.African coal prices
* European coal prices subdued by stall-out in power use
By Henning Gloystein
SINGAPORE, April 13 (Reuters) - Asian coal price benchmarks were supported this week by a rebound in Chinese imports that lifted markets, sparking hopes that the worst of a prolonged downturn for the fuel has passed.
China imported 19.69 million tonnes of coal in March, up 15.6 percent on the year, official data showed on Wednesday, as power plants sought to replenish stocks after the winter heating season and ahead of the high demand summer period. from March have shown a recovery, which is related to the increase in domestic prices, and I believe that the recovery will be sustained into April and May," said Zhang Xiaojin, an analyst at Everbright Futures.
Benchmark physical coal prices for the Asia-Pacific region were stable to higher, and traders said the China data would support or raise them later this week.
Prompt physical cargoes out of Australia's Newcastle port GCLNWCPFBMc1 last settled at $51.10 per tonne, up from $50.80 at the end of last week.
South African cargoes from the Richards Bay terminal GCLRCBPFBMc1 were at $53.75 a tonne, up from $53.20 on Friday.
China's coal sector has been reeling as a result of slowing domestic demand and excess capacity. This has also curbed the country's appetite for coal imports, which fell 30 percent over the whole of 2015. strong imports in March, which were also seen in iron ore and other commodities, sparked hopes that the worst of a mining depression that has pulled down Australian benchmark coal prices by over 70 percent since their historic peaks in 2008 might be coming to an end. traders remained wary, though, of betting on a wider coal recovery as imports in the first quarter came in at 48.46 million tonnes, down 1.2 percent from a year ago.
In Europe, coal markets remained subdued as low demand stemming from slow economic growth, improving energy efficiency, and rising renewables such as solar and wind, combined with poor seasonal demand after a mild spring and winter.
"Q4 2015 was not only characterized by extremely warm weather conditions (i.e. low demand), but it also exhibited an anomalous persistence of wind (power output)," said brokerage Marex Spectron.
With early 2016 showing similar tendencies of mild weather and strong renewable output, Marex Spectron said it is "very likely to expect a significant decrease in coal and gas-employment for power generation."
European coal prices for delivery into Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Antwerp (ARA) GCLARAPDSMc1 remained below $45 a tonne, last closing at $44.15 a tonne, just $2.15 off lows hit in February, when prices fell to levels not seen in over a decade.
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