China Coking Coal Prices Set for Record 46% Monthly Surge
Supply issues have been tightening the Chinese coking coal market for months, pushing the price of the key steelmaking raw material a record 46% in August alone, the biggest surge on record. Coking coal futures on China’s Dalian exchange were rising by 6% on Monday afternoon local time amid persistent supply issues following the mining disaster in May and increased safety checks on other Chinese…
In August, China's coking coal market experienced a record-breaking 46% monthly surge, the largest increase on record since trading began in 2013. This surge was primarily driven by ongoing supply issues, stemming from a mining disaster in May and heightened safety checks on Chinese mines. The price of coking coal, a crucial raw material for steelmaking, was soaring by 6% on Monday in China's Dalian exchange, reflecting the persistent supply constraints.
The price surge in August surpassed the previous record of 38% rise seen in July 2025. The escalation in coking coal prices has impacted steelmakers in India, the world's second-largest steel producer. India, which relies heavily on imports for its coking coal needs, accounting for up to 95% of its demand, has witnessed a squeeze in margins due to the rising input prices.
Metallurgical coal, also known as coking coal or met coal, is a high-carbon coal grade essential for the steelmaking process. The freight price for premium coking coal shipped from Australia surged by 25% over the first seven months of the year compared to the previous year. This price increase was attributed to supply disruptions, slower mine ramp-up, higher prices due to the Iran war, and the tragic coal mine explosion in China's Shanxi province, which resulted in over 80 fatalities, making it the deadliest mining accident in years in China.
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