During the week ending March 27, local coke prices in China have remained stable compared to March 20, but the first round of increases has already been announced and will be implemented next week. Bullish sentiments prevail due to the sharp rises seen in the local coking coal market this week.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,600/mt ($232.2/mt) ex-warehouse, moving sideways compared to March 20, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,500 | 217.0 | 0.0 | -0.8 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,635 | 236.5 | 0.0 | -0.8 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,485 | 214.8 | 0.0 | -0.7 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,600 | 231.4 | 0.0 | -0.8 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,535 | 222.0 | 0.0 | -0.8 | ||
| Average | 1,551 | 224.3 | 0.0 | -0.8 |
including 13 percent VAT
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,600 | 231.4 | 140.0 | 19.5 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,361 | 196.8 | 40.0 | 5.1 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 1,366 | 197.6 | 181.0 | 25.6 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,150 | 166.3 | 50.0 | 6.7 | |
| Average | 1,369 | 198.0 | 102.8 | 14.2 |
During the given week, coke prices in the Chinese domestic market have moved sideways, while the first round of price hikes will be implemented as of April 1 amid improved sentiments. Inventories of coke are at relatively low levels, bolstering prices to a certain degree. Coking coal prices have moved up, providing support for coke prices from the cost side.
During the given week, coking coal prices have moved up by RMB 102/mt on average amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. The supply of coking coal has been limited but has started to gradually improve by the end of the week, while increase margins have gradually shrunk. Inventories of coking coal are at relatively high levels, which may exert a negative impact on prices. It is thought that coking coal prices may edge up slightly in the coming week.
On March 27, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market are at $238/mt FOB, rising by $3/mt compared to March 20. The leading Indonesian coke supplier has been offering met coke at above $250/mt FOB.
As of March 27, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,219/mt ($177/mt), increasing by RMB 48/mt ($7/mt) or 4.1 percent since March 20, while decreasing by 1.46 percent compared to the previous trading day, March 26. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,752/mt ($254/mt), rising by RMB 11.5/mt ($1.7/mt) or 0.66 percent since March 20, while decreasing by 1.04 percent compared to the previous trading day, March 26.
$1 = RMB 6.9141