US petroleum coke exports to China rose in August on higher domestic coal prices and reduced competition from Indian buyers. Exports to China totalled 308,500t, nearly triple July volumes and up by 51pc from a year earlier. Chinese demand for US high-sulphur coke strengthened as domestic coal prices increased, prompting buyers to purchase more coke as a replacement fuel. Fob Qinhuangdao domestic 5,500kcal/kg NAR coal prices rose by $7 over the course of July to $95/t from $88/t at the start of the month. Although the price advantage for coke was fairly limited at the time, expectations for sustained coal price increases spurred demand for August-loading coke cargoes from the US.
展开▼
