[SMM Coking Coal & Coke Daily Brief]
Coking coal market:
Linfen low-sulphur coking coal was quoted at 1,620 yuan/mt.
Coking coal side, safety inspections continued, significantly affecting mine operations. Overall coking coal supply remained tight, with most mines maintaining low inventory levels and a strong tendency to hold back from selling in anticipation of price increases. Online auction transaction prices continued to rise, and the spot coking coal market may hold up well in the short term.
Coke market:
The nationwide average price of quasi-first-grade metallurgical coke (dry quenching) was 1,815 yuan/mt.
News side, market sources indicated that the fifth round of coke price increase would be initiated tomorrow, with an increment of 50 yuan/mt rather than the previously rumored 100 yuan/mt. Supply side, coke price increases failed to cover the rise in coking coal prices, squeezing profits for coke producers. Additionally, most mines in Shanxi suspended production for self-inspection, and raw material shortages led to forced production cuts at some coke producers, resulting in a decline in coke supply. Demand side, steel mills maintained high operating rates, with hot metal production at a relatively high level, and buyers actively procured coke. Overall, fundamentals remained tight, and the coke market may hold up well in the short term. [SMM Steel]
