US-based SunCoke Energy, Inc. announced on Wednesday, January 7, its preliminary production results for the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2014, SunCoke's coke output amounted to 1.08 million mt, up two percent year on year, primarily due to production improvements and better coal-to-coke yields at its Indiana Harbor facility. While Indiana Harbor saw a year-over-year improvement in the quarter, it fell short of the targeted range.
According to SunCoke, the estimated coke production for 2014 of 4.17 million mt is down 2.2 percent compared with the full year of 2013, reflecting the combined impact of severe winter weather in the first quarter of 2014, refurbishment and production challenges at the Indiana Harbor facility, and lower coal-to-coke yields at the Haverhill facility.