[ Ferrexpo Temporarily Suspends Ukraine Iron Ore Production Amid Export Blockades ]

Ukraine's PJSC Zaporizhcoke, a major metallurgical coke producer, reported that its blast furnace coke output dropped by 15.3% month-on-month to 63.4 thousand tonnes in July 2026. The 19.6% year-on-year decline was primarily attributed to constraints in coal concentrate supplies caused by the blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports following Russian attacks on merchant vessels. For the first seven months of 2026, the Metinvest subsidiary's total coke production stood at 497.75 thousand tonnes, a 2.9% decrease compared to the same period last year.

US coal producer Alpha Metallurgical Resources reported a net loss of $12.3 million for the second quarter of 2026, despite generating $386.2 million in metallurgical coal revenues from the sale of 3.1 million tons. The company's average realization on metallurgical coal stood at $124.30 per ton. In response to softening seaborne pricing and persistent high supply costs, management adjusted its full-year 2026 guidance, projecting metallurgical coal shipments to range between 13.2 million and 14.0 million tons, while thermal coal shipments are targeted at 1.0 to 1.4 million tons.

At least nine workers sustained critical burn injuries following an explosion in a furnace chamber at a private steel plant in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, India, on August 9, 2026. The incident occurred during an operational shift when hot metal splashed from the furnace, prompting immediate investigations by state factory inspectors. The industrial accident temporarily halts the facility's melting operations as local authorities mandate a detailed safety compliance review before production can resume.