China, which has been the largest producer of coke, saw its growth in output decline sharply to 1.2% a drop of 18.6% y-o-y in July of 2012.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in a report on the performance of the steel industry in July said the country’s total coke output increased 5.8% y-o-y to 261.53Mt in January-July, but then slowed by 7%.
The decline is despite a constantly declining coal price in the country substantially relieving coking plants of their cost burden, and providing a greater profit margin, but this has still failed to encourage mills to increase production.
Source: China Metals e-mail [email protected]