* European API2 2015 coal futures at 12-year low
* Seaborne trade volumes down as demand falls
LONDON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - European thermal coal prices hovered near multi-year lows as falling demand hit seaborne trade volumes and ample supplies depressed the market.
European cargoes for nearby delivery into Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Antwerp (ARA) GCLARAPDSMc2 last closed at $55.00 a tonne, down around 15 percent since the start of the year.
European API2 2015 coal futures TRAPI2Yc1 were down 0.15 cents or 0.3 percent at $47.60 a tonne, hovering near a 12-year low.
"There's no reason to be bullish for coal demand. Seaborne trade is falling in absolute terms," said Jeffrey Landsberg, managing director of U.S. based consultancy Commodore Research.
Traders said the biggest factor driving coal prices lower in 2015 has been the sharp fall in Chinese imports as the world's biggest coal consumer has focused on its domestic production.
Chinese coal imports fell by around 30 percent in the nine months to September from the same period a year ago.
"Next year it's very possible Chinese imports are going to fall more which will most likely cause seaborne trade to fall more," Landsberg said.
"I'm not optimistic about this market because of oversupply combined with decreasing demand."
Environmental concerns are also putting pressure on the coal industry, ahead of climate talks in Paris next month.
Prominent Australians, including a former central bank governor, scientists and doctors, are urging world leaders to impose a moratorium on new coal mines when they meet in Paris for the climate summit. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N12Q5YA
Prompt prices for Australian coal cargoes from its Newcastle terminal GCLNWCPFBMc1 have fallen by over 9 percent in the past month, closing at $52.35 per tonne on Tuesday.