During the week ending March 14, local coke prices in China have moved down compared to the previous week.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,375/mt ($191.7/mt) ex-warehouse, moving down by RMB 55/mt ($7.7/mt) compared to March 7, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,335 | 186.1 | -55.0 | -7.7 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,525 | 212.6 | -55.0 | -7.8 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,375 | 191.7 | -55.0 | -7.7 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,375 | 191.7 | -55.0 | -7.7 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,425 | 198.6 | -55.0 | -7.8 | ||
| Average | 1,407 | 196.1 | -55.0 | -7.8 |
including 13 percent VAT
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,290 | 179.8 | -10.0 | -1.4 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 901 | 125.6 | -7.0 | -1.0 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 994 | 138.6 | -32.0 | -4.5 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,010 | 140.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Average | 1,048.75 | 146.2 | -12.3 | -1.7 |
During the given week, coking prices in the Chinese domestic market have edged down, though the pace of the declines has slowed down, amid bearish sentiments. Following the decreases in the LTC prices of big miners, there will be limited room for coking coal prices in spot market to edge down.
Coke prices have seen their 11th successive round of declines. Finished steel prices have gradually edged up amid increasing ferrous metal futures prices over the past few trading days, while the weak resumption of construction activity has not improved significantly, weakening the support for the steel market and exerting a negative impact on the coke market. Coking plants’ capacity utilization rates have been steady, and they might not reduce production in the short term, which would result in ongoing oversupply in the coke market.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has announced that it will cut interest rates and the reserve ratio at the right moment, while China’s National Development and Reform Commission has announced that it will implement crude steel production controls in 2025 and promote the reduction and reorganization of the steel industry, which will positively affect market sentiments to a certain degree.
It is thought that coke prices in the Chinese domestic market will fluctuate within a limited range in the coming week.
On March 14, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market have been at $230/mt FOB, decreasing slightly from $230-235/mt FOB at March 7.
As of March 14, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,088/mt ($152/mt), increasing by RMB 5/mt ($0.7/mt) or 0.5 percent since March 7, while up 0.69 percent compared to the previous trading day, March 13. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,642.5/mt ($229/mt), decreasing by RMB 14.5/mt ($2/mt) or 0.9 percent since March 7, while up 0.03 percent compared to the previous trading day, March 13.
$1 = RMB 7.1738