According to the data released by the Chinese customs authorities, in March this year China exported 100,000 mt of coke and semi-coke at an average price of $469/mt FOB, up by $80/mt as compared to February. The average price of ex-China coke and semi-coke exports had fallen to $389/mt FOB in February, down by $40/mt month on month. In March, from Tianjin port offers of first grade coke were at $500/mt FOB, while offers of second grade coke were at $480/mt FOB.
In the first quarter this year, the total export volume of coke from China reached 250,000 mt. The second quarter is the traditional peak season for China's coke exports, and so export volumes are expected to increase significantly. As for prices, due to the weakening of international coking coal prices and domestic coke prices, there is little room for average coke export prices to continue their sharp uptrend, while a downtrend may be seen.