[SMM Coking Coal and Coke Daily Brief Review] 20260316

Published: Mar 16, 2026 16:25
[SMM Daily Brief Review of Coking Coal and Coke] In terms of supply, as the Two Sessions ended, coke producers previously subject to production restrictions gradually resumed production. With losses per mt of coke remaining within an acceptable range, production enthusiasm was moderate, and coke supply increased steadily. On the demand side, as the country's important meetings ended, steel mills previously subject to production restrictions were expected to resume production, leading to some increase in coke demand. However, as no clearly positive policies emerged from the Two Sessions, market wait-and-see sentiment remained strong, and steel mills maintained a cautious attitude toward coke, mainly purchasing as needed. In summary, the coke market may remain temporarily stable in the short term.

[SMM Daily Brief Review of Coking Coal and Coke]

Coking coal market:

Linfen low-sulphur coking coal was quoted at 1,450 yuan/mt. Tangshan low-sulphur coking coal was quoted at 1,460 yuan/mt.

Coking coal, mainstream coal mines have basically resumed normal production, and the energy crisis caused by the US-Iran war still persists. The market remains relatively optimistic about energy commodities, and improved market sentiment has led some downstream enterprises to become more active in purchasing. Prices of some oversold coal varieties rebounded, while prices of most coal varieties stabilized, with expectations of a rebound later on.

Coke market:

The nationwide average price of first-grade metallurgical coke (dry quenching) was 1,735 yuan/mt. The nationwide average price of quasi-first-grade metallurgical coke (dry quenching) was 1,595 yuan/mt. The nationwide average price of first-grade metallurgical coke (wet quenching) was 1,390 yuan/mt. The nationwide average price of quasi-first-grade metallurgical coke (wet quenching) was 1,300 yuan/mt.

In terms of supply, with the conclusion of the Two Sessions, coke enterprises previously subject to production restrictions gradually resumed production, and losses per mt of coke remained within an acceptable range, leaving production sentiment moderate, while coke supply increased steadily. Demand side, with the conclusion of the country's important meetings, steel mills previously subject to production restrictions are expected to resume production, leading to some increase in coke demand. However, as no clear supportive policies emerged from the Two Sessions, market wait-and-see sentiment remained strong, and steel mills maintained a cautious attitude toward coke, mainly purchasing as needed. Overall, the coke market may remain temporarily stable in the short term. [SMM Steel]

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

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[SMM Coking Coal and Coke Daily Brief Review] 20260316 - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)