LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - Prices of prompt loading coal cargoes and cargoes delivered into Europe were stable on Friday after a day of quiet trading.

DES ARA prices remain at record levels set on Wednesday with a July delivery cargo at $158.25. Offers were as high as $161.00 a tonne but bids were close to the last traded level. There is strong demand from producers as well as end-users.

Producers are finding it more economic to buy DES ARA coal to supply European customers rather than shipping their own production from South Africa, for example.

Fundamentally, coal prices are looking extremely strong and likely to set fresh records repeatedly through the balance of this year, traders, utilities and producers said.

South African prices have also held steady despite a lack of Indian buying for very prompt cargoes. Higher prices and stronger interest are seen for Q4 and 2009 cargoes.

A June South African cargo was bid at $112.00 and offered at $113.75, July was offered at $118.75 on electronic trading platform globalCOAL.

A DES ARA July coal parcel was bid at $157.00 a tonne and offered at $161.00 a tonne for a cape, on globalCOAL.

These prices were almost unchanged from Thursday's levels but several dollars a tonne higher than a week ago. (Reporting by Jackie Cowhig)