During the given week, coke prices in the Chinese domestic market have remained stable, while coking plants have attempted to raise their coke prices, with the hikes expected to be implemented on April 13, though mainstream steelmakers have not responded to the proposed increases yet.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,655/mt ($241.1/mt) ex-warehouse, moving sideways compared to April 3, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,555 | 226.5 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,690 | 246.2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,540 | 224.3 | 0.0 | 0.9 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,655 | 241.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,590 | 231.6 | 0.0 | 0.9 | ||
| Average | 1,606 | 233.9 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
including 13 percent VAT
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,510 | 220.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,260 | 183.5 | -23.0 | -2.6 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 1,290 | 187.9 | -27.0 | -3.2 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,240 | 180.6 | 0.0 | 0.7 | |
| Average | 1,325 | 193.0 | -12.5 | -1.0 |
Coking plants’ capacity utilization rates are at normal levels, while inventories are at low levels, bolstering coke prices to a certain degree. Recently, steelmakers’ profitability has improved slightly, which will exert a positive impact on the demand for coke. It is thought that coke prices will likely edge up in the coming week.
At the same time, local coking coal prices have moved down amid sufficient supplies from miners. Inventories of coking coal are at medium levels. Cautious sentiments prevail among market players, resulting in an unwillingness to build up stocks. As bargaining between the supply and demand sides has intensified, market transactions have predominantly concentrated on low-priced material.
On April 10, offer prices of coke CSR65/63 in the export market are at $242/mt FOB, moving sideways compared to April 3. Ex-Indonesia coke CSR65/63 offers have reached $255-260/mt FOB.
As of April 10, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,056/mt ($154/mt), decreasing by RMB 56.5/mt ($8.2/mt) or 5.0 percent since April 3, while down 4.22 percent compared to the previous trading day, April 9. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,640/mt ($239/mt), declining by RMB 30/mt ($4.4/mt) or 1.8 percent since April 3, while decreasing by 2.21 percent compared to the previous trading day, April 9.
$1 = RMB 6.8654