During the week ending December 12, a second round of declines in coke prices in the Chinese domestic market has been implemented.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,710/mt ($242.1/mt) ex-warehouse, decreasing by RMB 55/mt ($7.8/mt) compared to December 5, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,610 | 227.9 | -55.0 | -7.4 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,745 | 247.0 | -55.0 | -7.4 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,595 | 225.8 | -55.0 | -7.4 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,710 | 242.1 | -55.0 | -7.4 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,645 | 232.9 | -55.0 | -7.4 | ||
| Average | 1,661 | 235.1 | -55.0 | -7.4 |
All prices include 13 percent VAT.
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,500 | 212.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,220 | 172.4 | -38.0 | -5.4 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 1,231 | 174.0 | -41.0 | -5.8 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,190 | 168.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Average | 1,285.25 | 181.7 | -19.8 | -2.8 |
Recently, coking plants’ capacity utilization rates have been stable, while their inventories have been at relatively low levels. Coking coal prices have continued their downtrend, weakening the support for coke prices. Moreover, molten iron outputs have decreased, exerting a negative impact on the demand for coke. It is thought that coke prices in the Chinese domestic market will soften in the coming week.
On December 12, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market have been at $235-240/mt FOB, down from $245-250/mt FOB two weeks ago.
As of December 12, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,016.5/mt ($144/mt), decreasing by RMB 123.5/mt ($17.5/mt) or 10.8 percent since December 5, while down 4.33 percent compared to the previous trading day, December 11. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,475/mt ($209/mt), decreasing by RMB 110/mt ($15.5/mt) or 6.9 percent since December 5, while down 3.06 percent compared to the previous trading day, December 11.
$1 = RMB 7.0686