During the week ending July 24, import premium hard coking coal quotations in China have moved up slightly amid improved demand in Asia, in India in particular.
Quotations of premium hard coking coal from Australia are at $121/mt CFR China, increasing by $2/mt compared to last week. Hard coking coal prices are at $100/mt CFR, moving sideways week on week.
Coke prices in Tangshan are at RMB 1,800/mt ($257.5/mt) ex-warehouse, moving down by RMB 50/mt ($7.2/mt) compared to the previous week, according to SteelOrbis’ data.
During the given week, though coking plants in eastern and central China reduced production slightly, coking mills in northern China increased their outputs of coke, resulting in a slight rise in overall coke output. The inventories of coke have increased slightly, while coking plants have still been seeking to raise their coke prices. Meanwhile, demand for coke from steelmakers and traders has been better following price declines.
As of Friday, July 24, coke futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are at RMB 1,943/mt ($277.6/mt), increasing by RMB 36/mt ($5.2/mt) or 1.85 percent compared to July 17.
$1 = RMB 6.9938