First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,600/mt ($231.8/mt) ex-warehouse, moving down by RMB 55/mt ($7.3/mt) compared to February 27, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,500 | 217.3 | -55.0 | -7.3 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,635 | 236.9 | -55.0 | -7.3 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,485 | 215.1 | -55.0 | -7.3 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,600 | 231.8 | -55.0 | -7.3 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,535 | 222.4 | -55.0 | -7.3 | ||
| Average | 1,551 | 224.7 | -55.0 | -7.3 |
All prices include 13 percent VAT.
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,480 | 214.4 | -90.0 | -12.4 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,161 | 168.2 | -4.0 | -0.1 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 1,185 | 171.7 | -16.0 | -1.8 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,100 | 159.4 | -90.0 | -12.5 | |
| Average | 1,231.5 | 178.4 | -50.0 | -6.7 |
Coke prices in the Chinese domestic market have moved down amid slight increases in inventories. Coking plants’ profitability has not been good, exerting a negative impact on their sentiments. Molten iron output has decreased slightly, weakening the demand for coke. The weather in China is still cold, resulting in construction sites not completely resuming activities and in rising inventories of finished steel. It is thought that coke prices in the Chinese domestic market will likely soften further in the coming week.
Coking coal miners’ outputs have recovered to normal levels, while the demand from downstream users has not followed, exerting a negative impact on market sentiments. Inventories of coking coal have increased as well, weakening the support for prices.
On March 6, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market have been at $235-238/mt FOB, moving sideways compared to February 27.
As of March 6, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,123/mt ($163/mt), increasing by RMB 30/mt ($4.3/mt) or 2.7 percent since February 27, while increasing by 1.86 percent compared to the previous trading day, March 5. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,695.5/mt ($246/mt), rising by RMB 60/mt ($8.7/mt) or 3.7 percent since February 27, while increasing by 1.47 percent compared to the previous trading day, March 5.
$1 = RMB 6.9025