According to the data issued by the Hebei, China-based Qinhuangdao coke trading market, the local coke price has registered a fresh decline in the last week due to weak demand in the market, falling by RMB 20-30/mt compared with the previous week. Meanwhile, coke inventory at Qinhuangdao port is currently on the rise. As of March 5, coke inventory at the port stood at 8.35 million mt, up nearly 3 million mt compared with 5.4 million mt at the start of 2010, and so is now close to the peak level in 2009.
According the latest data, Datong quality mix coke (5,800C/kg) is offered at RMB 740-750/mt ($108.39-110/mt), down 2.7 percent week on week, 4,500C/kg coke at RMB 530-540/mt ($77.63-79/mt), down 3.7 percent week on week, 5,000C/kg coke at RMB 600-610/mt ($87.88-89.35/mt), down 3.3 percent week on week, and 5,500C/kg coke at RMB 700-710/mt ($102.53-104/mt), down 2.9 percent week on week. Thus, prices have marked a week-on-week decline for the third week on week, against a background of declines in both shipment volumes and freight rates, reflecting the overall dead season for the coke industry.