[Successful R&D of Jinye Huaxi Special Steel's Medium-Thickness Plate Q355ND]

[SMM Coking Coal and Coke Daily Brief] In terms of supply, the first round of coke price increases has been implemented, significantly narrowing losses per metric ton of coke. Most coking plants maintained their original production levels, with coke supply remaining relatively stable and shipments smooth. Coke inventory at coking plants stayed low. On the demand side, with the Chinese New Year approaching, steel trading volume has noticeably decreased, dampening steel mills' production enthusiasm. Hot metal production remained at a relatively low level, and coke inventory at steel mills was at a reasonable level, leading them to purchase coke as needed. Overall, the coke market is expected to hold up well in the short term, generally stable with a slight rise.

On January 29, 2026, Baffinland Iron Mines announced it has secured all regulatory authorizations to begin construction on the Steensby Component of the Mary River Project in Nunavut, Canada. The expansion involves a new 110 km railway and a deepwater port at Steensby Inlet. Once completed in roughly three years, the project will quadruple the mine’s high-grade (67% Fe) direct-shipping ore capacity from 4.2 MTPA to 22 MTPA, significantly reducing logistics costs and environmental impacts.

In the Union Budget 2026 presented on February 1, 2026, the Indian government increased the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on the sale of coal and lignite from 1% to 2%. This measure is part of a broader fiscal strategy to simplify tax collection while managing the massive scale of domestic production. The change is expected to slightly adjust the procurement costs for Indian steelmakers who remain heavily reliant on coal-fired blast furnaces for their 164.9 million ton annual steel output.