WEEKLY: Steel output cuts subdue China's met coke demand

The Chinese metallurgical coke market saw downstream demand edge down further this week due to production curtailments at some northern mills amid tighter environmental regulations. The market outlook, however, is not so bearish thanks to the strengthening of coking coal and steel prices buoyed by escalating global energy supply worries.

Integrated mills in North China's Tangshan city continued to observe local authorities' mandates for a 30% cut in their blast furnaces and 30-50% cuts in sintering plants for most of this week to ensure better air quality during the country's crucial "Two Sessions" meetings, leading to slower coke consumption