During the week ending October 31, coke suppliers have finished the second round of local price increases and proposed the third round, which is likely to be accepted next week.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,690/mt ($238/mt) ex-warehouse, moving up by RMB 55/mt ($7.7/mt) compared to October 24, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,610 | 227.1 | 55.0 | 7.9 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,745 | 246.2 | 55.0 | 7.9 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,595 | 225.0 | 55.0 | 7.9 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,690 | 238.4 | 55.0 | 7.9 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,645 | 232.1 | 55.0 | 7.9 | ||
| Average | 1,657 | 233.8 | 55.0 | 7.9 |
including 13 percent VAT
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,610 | 227.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,279 | 180.4 | 74.0 | 10.6 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 1,226 | 173.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,190 | 167.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | |
| Average | 1,326.25 | 187.1 | 18.5 | 2.7 |
Coke prices in the Chinese domestic market have moved on an uptrend at the beginning of the given week, while moving sideways later. On October 29, coking plants attempted to raise coke prices again for the third time, though steelmakers haven’t accepted it yet. Following two rounds of price hike, coking plants have still suffered from loss as the growth wasn’t as fast as that in coking coal. Inventories of coke have been at relatively low levels, bolstering its prices to a certain degree. It is expected that coke prices might edge up further in the coming week.
During the given week, average coking coal prices in the Chinese domestic market have seen rises amid the increasing futures. Some coal miners reduced their production outputs to ensure their annual production target, bolstering coking coal prices to a certain degree. Meanwhile, the safety inspection also reduced the supply of coking coal, exerting a positive impact on its prices. However, steel prices might edge down in the traditional offseason, which might weaken the support to the demand for coking coal. It is thought that coking coal prices in the Chinese domestic market will indicate slight rises in the coming week.
On October 31, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market have been at $233/mt FOB, increasing by $3/mt compared to October 24.
As of October 31, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,286/mt ($181/mt), increasing by RMB 37.5/mt ($5.3/mt) or 3.0 percent since October 24, while down 0.92 percent compared to the previous trading day, October 30. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,777/mt ($250/mt), rising by RMB 19.5/mt ($2.75/mt) or 1.1 percent since October 24, while down 1.11 percent compared to the previous trading day, October 30.
$1 = RMB 7.088