During the week ending April 25, local coke prices in China have moved sideways compared to the previous week, but the outlook is cautiously positive.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,430/mt ($199/mt) ex-warehouse, moving sideways compared to April 18, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change (RMB/mt) | Weekly Change ($/mt) |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,390 | 192.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,580 | 219.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,430 | 198.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,430 | 198.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,480 | 205.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Average | 1,462 | 202.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
All prices include 13 percent VAT.
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change (RMB/mt) | Weekly Change ($/mt) |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,310 | 181.8 | -20.0 | -2.8 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,025 | 142.2 | -8.0 | -1.1 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 1,038 | 144.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,030 | 142.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Average | 1,100.75 | 152.7 | -7.0 | -1.0 |
All prices include 13 percent VAT.
During the given week, average coking coal prices in the Chinese domestic market have edged down slightly. Inventory of coking coal has been at relatively low levels, while downstream users have mostly held cautious sentiments, exerting a negative impact on prices. Coking coal prices in the Chinese domestic market are expected to move sideways in the coming week.
Coke prices have remained stable in the given week following the rises implemented previously. Inventories of coke have decreased, bolstering prices to a certain degree. Coke consumption by steelmakers has increased slightly, positively affecting the demand for coke. Coking plants are expected to attempt to implement another round of price rises in the near future. It is thought that coke prices in the Chinese domestic market will increase slightly in the coming week as some buyers may conclude purchases ahead of the Labor Day holiday (May 1-5).
On April 25, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market have been at $224/mt FOB, moving sideways compared to last week.
As of April 25, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 956/mt ($124/mt), increasing by RMB 3.5/mt ($6.1/mt) or 0.4 percent since April 18, while up 0.05 percent compared to the previous trading day, April 24. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,566/mt ($216/mt), increasing by RMB 8/mt ($1.1/mt) or 0.5 percent since April 18, while down 1.29 percent compared to the previous trading day, April 24.
$1 = RMB 7.2066