During the week ending March 21, local coke prices in China have remained stable compared to the previous week.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,375/mt ($191.7/mt) ex-warehouse, moving sideways compared to March 14, according to SteelOrbis data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,335 | 186.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,525 | 212.5 | 0.0 | -0.1 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,375 | 191.6 | 0.0 | -0.1 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,375 | 191.6 | 0.0 | -0.1 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,425 | 198.6 | 0.0 | -0.1 | ||
| Average | 1,407 | 196.1 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
including 13 percent VAT
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,280 | 178.4 | -10.0 | -1.4 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 909 | 126.7 | 8.0 | 1.1 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 981 | 136.7 | -13.0 | -1.9 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 980 | 136.6 | -30.0 | -4.2 | |
| Average | 1,037.5 | 144.6 | -11.3 | -1.6 |
During the given week, coking coal prices in the Chinese domestic market have seen slight declines amid the sufficient supply and slack demand from downstream users. Buyers chose to keep relatively low inventory levels and only concluded purchases as needed. It is thought that coking coal prices in the Chinese domestic market will likely fluctuate within a limited range in the coming week.
Coke prices have moved sideways in the given week, while coking plants’ profitability decreased. Coking plants’ production capacity utilization rates have been stable, while the inventory level decreased, exerting a positive impact on coke market. Demand for rebar and wire rod improved gradually in the traditional peak season, which might bolster coke prices to a certain degree. However, the oversupply in coking coal market might continue for a certain period, which might negatively affect coke prices in the coming week.
On March 21, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market have been at $226/mt FOB, seeing a decreasing trend compared to last week.
As of March 21, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,010/mt ($152/mt), decreasing by RMB 78/mt ($11/mt) or 7.2 percent since March 14, while down 1.8 percent compared to the previous trading day, March 20. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,536/mt ($214/mt), decreasing by RMB 106.5/mt ($14.9/mt) or 6.5 percent since March 14, while down 1.76 percent compared to the previous trading day, March 20.
$1 = RMB 7.176