Latest situation in local Chinese coke market

During the week ending December 19, metallurgical coke prices in the Chinese domestic market have remained on a stable trend, while transaction activity in the overall market has continued to be at decent levels. As of December 19, coke futures contract (1505) offers at Dalian Commodity Exchange closed at RMB 1,045/mt ($170/mt), remaining week on week. Local coke prices in the Chinese domestic market can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
 
During the given week, coking plants in the southwestern and northeastern regions of China have been operating at low production capacity utilization rates, due to transportation problems and cold weather conditions respectively, while coking plants in other regions of the country have continued to operate at comparatively high capacity utilization rates. Meanwhile, domestic steelmakers' demand for coke has been at good levels, providing a certain degree of support for coke prices. However, the lack of positive news in terms of prices of finished steel and iron ore have prevented coke prices from moving up. It is expected that coke prices in the Chinese domestic market will remain on a stable trend in the coming week.