During the week ending February 14, local coke prices in China have moved down compared to the previous week, in line with market expectations.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,540/mt ($215/mt) ex-warehouse, moving down by RMB 55/mt ($7.7/mt) compared to February 7, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade (A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0) | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,500 | 209.2 | -55.0 | -7.7 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,690 | 235.7 | -55.0 | -7.7 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,540 | 214.8 | -55.0 | -7.7 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,540 | 214.8 | -55.0 | -7.7 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,590 | 221.7 | -55.0 | -7.7 | ||
| Average | 1,572 | 219.2 | -55.0 | -7.7 |
including 13 percent VAT
During the given period, coke prices in the Chinese domestic market have seen the eighth round of decline. Meanwhile, part of steelmakers in Hebei province attempted to ask for the ninth decrease in coke prices, which will likely be implemented in the next week. Coking plants’ capacity utilization rates shrank to a certain degree as the inventory levels increased. Market players thought that the production curb might be triggered if coking plants’ loss expanded further. It is thought that the coke prices in the Chinese domestic market might move sideways by then, while before that which might see one to two rounds of price decreases.
On February 14, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market have been at $240-245/mt FOB, decreasing $2.5/mt on average compared to February 7.
As of February 14, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,085/mt ($151/mt), decreasing by RMB 68.5/mt ($10/mt) or 5.94 percent since February 7, while down 2.21 percent compared to the previous trading day, February 13. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,681.5/mt ($234.5/mt), decreasing by RMB 105/mt ($15/mt) or 5.9 percent since February 7, while down 1.41 percent compared to the previous trading day, February 13.
$1 = RMB 7.1706