Coke prices in the Chinese domestic market have moved sideways in the past week, while a price hike will be implemented from next Monday, October 27, as major mills today accepted the second round of price hikes proposed since late last week. Coking plants have started to incur losses and so a few of them have begun to implement maintenance works, resulting in decreasing production capacity utilization rates. Meanwhile, inventories of coke have been at relatively low levels, bolstering prices. Molten iron outputs have indicated slight declines, though remaining at relatively high levels, supporting demand for coke.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,635/mt ($230/mt) ex-warehouse, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coke | First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） | Hancheng, Shaanxi | 1,555 | 219.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Zibo, Shandong | 1,690 | 238.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | ||
| Pingdingshan, Henan | 1,540 | 217.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | ||
| Tangshan | 1,635 | 230.5 | 0.0 | 0.1 | ||
| Huaibei, Anhui | 1,590 | 224.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | ||
| Average | 1,602 | 225.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
Including 13 percent VAT
Prices of coking coal in local markets in China
| Product Name | Specification | Place of Origin | Price（RMB/mt） | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change（RMB/mt） | Weekly Change（$/mt） |
| Coking Coal | A9,S0.4,V19,G88 | Linfen low-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,610 | 227.0 | 70.0 | 9.9 |
| A10.5,S3,V25,G80 | Lveliang high-sulfur primary coking coal | 1,205 | 169.9 | 132.0 | 18.7 | |
| A10,S1.8,V21,G90 | Jinzhong medium-sulfur primary coal | 1,226 | 172.8 | 32.0 | 4.6 | |
| A12,S1.2,V37.G90 | Linfen low-sulfur 1/3 coking coal | 1,190 | 167.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Average | 1,307.75 | 184.4 | 58.5 | 8.5 |
During the given week, average coking coal prices in the Chinese domestic market have increased amid tight supplies. Downstream users have been willing to conclude buy coking coal, which has helped push up prices. Steelmakers have been replenishing stocks of coking coal, exerting a positive impact on prices.
On October 24, offer prices of coke CSR65 in the export market have been at $230/mt FOB, just slightly up from $225-230/mt FOB on October 17.
As of October 24, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,248.5/mt ($176/mt), increasing by RMB 69.5/mt ($9.8/mt) or 5.9 percent since October 17, while up 1.46 percent compared to the previous trading day, October 23. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are standing at RMB 1,757.5/mt ($247.5/mt), rising by RMB 81.5/mt ($11.5/mt) or 4.9 percent since October 17, while up 1.53 percent compared to the previous trading day, October 23.
$1 = RMB 7.0928