During the week ending September 26, local coke prices in China have moved sideways compared to September 19, but in the middle of the week producers offered a first round of price increases after the declines seen in the previous weeks. Some increase is expected to be accepted in the near future.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,560/mt ($220/mt) ex-warehouse, remaining stable compared to September 19, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,500 | 210.8 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,635 | 229.8 | 0.0 | -0.1 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,485 | 208.7 | 0.0 | -0.1 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,560 | 219.3 | 0.0 | -0.1 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,535 | 215.7 | 0.0 | -0.1 | ||
| Average | 1,543 | 216.9 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
including 13 percent VAT
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,600 | 224.9 | 90.0 | 12.6 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,027 | 144.3 | -3.0 | -0.5 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 1,023 | 143.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,190 | 167.3 | 70.0 | 9.8 | |
| Average | 1,210 | 170.1 | 39.3 | 5.5 |
Coke prices in the Chinese domestic market have remained stable. Some coking plants have attempted to raise coke prices, while downstream steelmakers have not accepted the increases. Coking plants’ capacity utilization rates have declined amid decreasing profitability. Most steelmakers in Hebei Province have resumed their production activities, resulting in the increasing molten iron outputs, bolstering the demand for coke to a certain degree. Since the National Day holiday (October 1-8) is approaching, steelmakers will build up some coke stocks, which will provide support for prices. It is thought that coke prices in the Chinese domestic market will rebound in the near future.
During the given week, average coking coal prices in the Chinese domestic market have edged up amid steady outputs.
On September 26, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market are standing at $225-230/mt FOB.
As of September 26, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,196.5/mt ($168.5/mt), decreasing by RMB 35.5/mt ($5/mt) or 2.9 percent since September 19, while down 2.64 percent compared to the previous trading day, September 25. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,692.5/mt ($238/mt), declining by RMB 46/mt ($6.5/mt) or 2.6 percent since September 19, while down 2.79 percent compared to the previous trading day, September 25.
$1 = RMB 7.1152