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Coking Coal

Coking coal is a high-grade variety of coal used primarily in the production of steel through the blast furnace process. Also known as metallurgical coal, it differs from thermal coal in its ability to be transformed into coke, a porous, carbon-rich material that serves as both a fuel and a reducing agent in iron-ore smelting. When heated in the absence of air in coke ovens, coking coal softens, swells and re-solidifies into coke, which provides the high temperatures and chemical reactions necessary to convert iron ore into molten iron. The quality of coking coal is determined by its carbon content, volatile matter, ash levels and coking properties, with premium hard coking coal commanding the highest prices. Major producers include Australia, the United States, Canada, Russia and Mongolia, with seaborne trade dominated by Australian and North American exports to steel mills in Asia, particularly China, Japan, South Korea and India. Coking coal remains essential to traditional steelmaking, though its long-term demand faces uncertainty as the industry explores lower-carbon production methods such as direct reduced iron using hydrogen or natural gas. Prices are volatile, driven by supply disruptions, steel demand cycles and infrastructure constraints at mines and ports. The sector is capital-intensive, with large-scale operations typically controlled by diversified mining groups and dedicated metallurgical coal producers.

Coking Coal News


Pembroke coal exports
China's coking coal imports set to rise as Shanxi mine disaster hits supply, traders say
Updated 5 hours ago By: Reuters

China's imports of coking coal, a steelmaking ingredient, are set to rise further this year after a fatal mine accident reduced domestic supply, traders said. Chinese importers have turned to... 


Blasting at a coal mine in Russia
India explores Russian coking coal assets, more nickel supplies, sources say
12th June 2026 By: Reuters

India's State-owned Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and NMDC are exploring acquisitions of coking coal assets in Russia as New Delhi seeks to secure supplies of critical raw materials, Indian... 


Iron-ore
Iron-ore posts biggest daily loss in nearly two months on China demand worries
4th June 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore prices slid on Thursday to record their biggest daily losses in nearly two months, weighed down by rising concerns about demand in top consumer China as steel margins shrink and steel... 


Iron-ore pile
Iron-ore heads for monthly loss as coal spike pressures margins
29th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Iron-ore headed for a monthly loss as a short-lived rally triggered by a fatal steelmaking-coal mine accident in China’s Shanxi province faded, leaving investors focused on mill margins and... 


Steelworker at smelter
Chinese coal disaster to ripple through steel, power, chemicals
28th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

The Shanxi coal disaster is likely to hit Chinese output in the short term, raising costs for steelmakers, power plants and chemicals manufacturers. The explosion at a coking coal mine that killed... 


Coal
Coking coal prices surge after China's worst coal mine disaster in 17 years
25th May 2026 By: Reuters

China's coking coal futures prices surged by nearly 8% to hit their daily upper limits after a deadly coal mine accident in a major coal production hub sparked a wave of stringent safety checks... 


Metallurgical coal pile in West Virginia
Clinch Resources starts commercial production of met coal in US
21st May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed Clinch Resources has started with commercial metallurgical coal production at its Lanes Branch surface mining operation, in Wyoming, West Virginia, ahead of schedule. Having... 


MC Mining appoints new chairperson
MC Mining appoints new chairperson
20th May 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

ASX- and JSE-listed MC Mining has appointed Jianheng (Albert) Deng as nonexecutive chairperson of the board with effect from May 19, succeeding Mathews Senosi who has served as interim chairperson.... 


BHP offices in Perth
BHP CFO says new investors buying in on copper exposure, AI demand
6th May 2026 By: Reuters

BHP CFO Vandita Pant said on Wednesday that a new and broader set of investors were buying into the company as AI demand makes its exposure to copper more valuable. Shares in BHP, the world's... 


Iron-ore trains in Pilbara, Australia
Iron-ore eases as investors weigh rising supply against higher war-induced costs
23rd April 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore prices eased on Thursday, as investors weighed prospects of a growing supply of the key steelmaking ingredient against higher costs stemming from the prolonged Iran conflict. The... 


Kestrel mine, in Queensland
Yancoal Australia inks $2.4bn deal to acquire Kestrel coking coal mine
14th April 2026 By: Reuters

Yancoal Australia said on Tuesday it has entered a deal to acquire an 80% stake in the Kestrel coking coal mine in Queensland for up to $2.4-billion - a move that strengthens its position as one of... 


Coal at Talga mine
Iran conflict and spinoff effects are keeping coal prices higher
10th April 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Energy prices, including coal, have been increasing on the back of intensifying geopolitical risk in the Middle East since the end of February. Research agency BMI reports Newcastle thermal coal... 


Iron-ore falls as shipments jump, Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire
Iron-ore falls as shipments jump, Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire
8th April 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore futures prices fell on Wednesday, as shipments of the key steelmaking ingredient from major suppliers surged and US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran. The... 


A haul truck in operation at an iron-ore mine
Iron-ore at three-week low as shrinking steel margins, slow demand weigh
2nd April 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore futures prices slid to their lowest in nearly three weeks on Thursday, pressured by shrinking steel margins and faltering demand following the completion of pre-holiday restocking in top... 


Iron-ore rangebound as surging fuel costs offset high portside China stocks
Iron-ore rangebound as surging fuel costs offset high portside China stocks
30th March 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore futures prices were stuck in a tight range on Monday, as investors assessed the cost impact of elevated energy prices and a pickup in steel demand in top consumer China against high... 


Iron-ore rises on Australia supply disruption concerns
Iron-ore rises on Australia supply disruption concerns
26th March 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore futures rose on Thursday, supported by concerns over Australian supply disruptions due to the closure of ports in the Pilbara region following a cyclone. The most-traded May iron ore... 


JSW Steel wins rights to develop coking coal mine in Mozambique
16th March 2026 By: Bloomberg

JSW Steel, India’s biggest steelmaker by capacity, won rights to develop a coal mine in Mozambique’s Tete province, securing access to a key raw material used in steel manufacturing. The company’s... 


MC Mining reports lower interim revenue, but a narrowed net loss
MC Mining reports lower interim revenue, but a narrowed net loss
13th March 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

ASX- and JSE-listed MC Mining has reported, in its interim financial report for the six months ended December 31, 2025, that its net loss after tax had narrowed by 2% year-on-year to $8.1-million,... 


Iron-ore extends rally on surging energy, rising freight costs
Iron-ore extends rally on surging energy, rising freight costs
9th March 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore futures traded at month-high prices on Monday, with Dalian iron ore rallying for the sixth consecutive session on the back of surging energy prices and freight costs amid the Iran war.... 


Iron-ore gains as China widens curbs on BHP cargoes
Iron-ore gains as China widens curbs on BHP cargoes
6th March 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore prices climbed on Friday as top consumer China's widening restrictions on buying some seaborne cargoes from major supplier BHP sparked supply concerns that outweighed falling demand. The... 


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