Coke Prices may Remain Strong amid Increasing Demand

SHANGHAI, Mar 1 (SMM) - On February 28, the transaction prices of first-grade metallurgical CQD in Luliang, Shanxi were 2,890 yuan/mt.

The two sessions are approaching, and safety inspections are strictly enforced, coking coal production has decreased while downstream demand was released. Coupled with the demand from traders, market sentiment improved and quotations for some coal types have increased.

On the supply side, traders gradually increased their procurement and some steel mills have increased their purchases of coke, hence coke stocks in coke companies continued to decline.
On the demand side, due to the impact of environmental protection, some steel mills conducted the production cuts, but the impact was not significant. Currently, steel mills were still operating at a high level, and the demand for coke was still strong.
On the whole, the rising costs expanded the losses and coke enterprises intended to increase the prices. Coupled with the increasing demand from some steel mills, it is expected that the short-term coke prices may remain strong.