In August this year, China’s total exports of coke and semi-coke amounted to 50,000 mt, the lowest monthly volume since 2008, according to the figures released by China’s General Administration of Customs. In the January-August period of this year, China’s coke export totaled 750,000 mt, down 74 percent or 2.12 million year on year. The average export price of coke from China in August was $489/mt FOB, up $23/mt compared to July.
Market players have attributed the sharp decline in China’s coke export volume and the increase in the export price to the high export tariff. After the global economic crisis in 2008 the Chinese government imposed 40 percent export duty on coke exports. However, some market players believe the Chinese government may cut the duty on coke exports in the future.
Meanwhile, China’s exports of coal (including lignite) in August totaled 650,000 mt, up 30 percent or 150,000 mt compared to July, while the country’s total coal exports in the January-August period amounted to 6.92 million mt, down 36.6 percent or 400,000 mt year on year.