During the week ending August 18, domestic coke prices have moved sideways compared to the previous week amid concerns in demand, while export prices from China have gone down.
First-grade coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 2,310/mt ($320.8/mt) ex-warehouse, moving sideways compared to August 11, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
Prices of coke in local markets in China
|
Product Name |
Specification |
Place of Origin |
Price（RMB/mt） |
Price ($/mt) |
Weekly Change（RMB/mt） |
Weekly Change（$/mt） |
|
Coke |
First grade （A<13.0,S<0.75,CSR>65.0） |
Hancheng, Shaanxi |
2,270 |
315.2 |
0.0 |
-1.8 |
|
Zibo, Shandong |
2,460 |
341.6 |
0.0 |
-2.0 |
||
|
Pingdingshan, Henan |
2,310 |
320.8 |
0.0 |
-1.9 |
||
|
Tangshan |
2,310 |
320.8 |
0.0 |
-1.9 |
||
|
Huaibei, Anhui |
2,360 |
327.7 |
0.0 |
-1.9 |
||
|
Average |
2,342 |
325.2 |
0.0 |
-1.9 |
All prices include 13 percent VAT.
During the given week, coking plants’ profitability improved to a certain degree, thereby they maintained relatively high capacity utilization rates. At the same time, the inventory of coke has been at relatively low level, providing certain support to prices. Though steel prices indicated slight declines, steelmakers’ demand for coke has been firm at current stage, also bolstering its prices. Rumors said coke prices might be implemented the decline, which slackened market players’ sentiments. Moreover, local coking coal prices decreased, which will weaken the support to coke prices from cost side. It is expected that coke prices in the Chinese domestic market will likely fluctuate within a limited range in the coming week.
In the export market, offers for ex-China CRS 65 coke have lost $5-10/mt over the week to $310-315/mt FOB.
As of Friday, August 18, coking coal futures at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) have settled at RMB 1,414/mt ($196.4/mt), down by RMB 69.5/mt ($9.7/mt) or 4.7 percent week on week. Meanwhile, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are at RMB 2,119.5/mt ($294.4/mt), decreasing by RMB 100/mt ($14/mt) or 4.5 percent compared to August 11.
$1 = RMB 7.2006