Coke market in stalemate in quiet holiday month

摘要

A largely balanced supply and demand picture and subdued holiday season trading kept US petroleum coke prices mostly flat in December, even as cfr prices fell in China and India. Buyers were reticent to secure cargoes in the month as they sought to cut inventories before the year ended. A general expectation that prices will fall in the coming months on growing supply and weaker coal prices also dampened demand. A spike in freight rates in mid-December also discouraged buying, particularly in China and India, which are furthest from the Gulf coast production centre.