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[SMM Coking Coal and Coke Daily Briefing] 20260126

iconJan 26, 2026 16:38
[SMM Coking Coal and Coke Daily Brief] Supply side, coking plants are generally in a loss-making position, and the first round of coke price increases has encountered resistance, dampening production enthusiasm. Some coking plants are preparing to cut production due to losses, leading to expectations of tightening coke supply. Demand side, end-use demand for finished steel lacks significant improvement, and hot metal output growth at steel mills is limited. Steel mills remain cautious in their coke purchasing sentiment, with most maintaining medium to high inventory levels. Subsequently, they will primarily purchase coke as needed. In summary, steel mills show limited willingness to accept coke price hikes, and the standoff between coking plants and steel mills continues. The coke market is expected to remain stable this week.

[SMM Daily Coking Coal and Coke Briefing]

Coking Coal Market:

The low-sulphur coking coal offer in Linfen was 1,650 yuan/mt. The low-sulphur coking coal offer in Tangshan was 1,450 yuan/mt.

Fundamentals for raw material, mines maintained normal production, coking coal supply was released in an orderly manner, downstream winter stockpiling basically ended, market procurement pace slowed down, coupled with an increase in failed online auctions recently, prices of some coal varieties adjusted narrowly. However, mine pre-sale orders were moderate, sales pressure was relatively small, short-term coking coal prices are expected to remain stable.

Coke Market:

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

Supply side, coke enterprises were generally in a loss-making state, and the first round of coke price increase was hindered, production enthusiasm was suppressed, individual coke enterprises planned production cuts due to losses, coke supply had tightening expectations. Demand side, end-use demand for finished steel lacked significant improvement, steel mill hot metal increments were limited, steel mills were relatively cautious in coke procurement sentiment, and their own coke inventory was mostly at medium to high levels, subsequent coke purchasing will mainly be as needed. In summary, steel mills had insufficient willingness to accept coke price increases, the coke-steel game continued, the coke market this week was expected to operate steadily.

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

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