Petroleum coke
Overview
Used in the manufacturing of metals, for power generation and in the production of numerous other products including glass, paint and fertilizers, petcoke is widely used. As the energy transition drives markets around the world to search for ways to reduce carbon emissions, the outlook for Petroleum coke remains uncertain.
Gain transparency into the evolving international petcoke markets with weekly and monthly prices, expert analysis and global market-moving news for fuel-grade and anode-grade petroleum coke.
Latest petroleum coke news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global petcoke industry.
Mid-sulphur coke premium falls to 16-month low
Mid-sulphur coke premium falls to 16-month low
London, 25 June (Argus) — The premium for fob US Gulf fuel-grade mid-sulphur petroleum coke over high-sulphur coke narrowed last week to its lowest in over a year because of a decline in sulphur content from multiple refineries in the region, increasing mid-sulphur supply while tightening high-sulphur coke spot availability. Fob US Gulf coast mid-sulphur coke's premium to the high-sulphur product dropped to $3/t on 18 June, down by $2/t on the week, after 4.5pc sulphur coke prices fell by $2.50/t to $70/t while the 6.5pc sulphur specification edged down by $1/t to $67/t fob. This was the lowest premium since late January 2024. It was also down from $6.50/t the week of 14 May and $11/t on 16 April. The spread has narrowed mainly because some US Gulf refineries' production has shifted to 4-5pc sulphur coke from 6-6.5pc because of lighter crude slates . At least three or four refiners in Texas and Louisiana that would typically produce 6.5pc sulphur fuel-grade coke have been producing closer to 5pc sulphur or less, market participants say. As a result, some traders have received mid-sulphur coke that is priced under long-term contracts based on high-sulphur prices. This has provided cushion for them to sell this coke into the mid-sulphur market at a smaller premium, while also boosting spot prices for high-sulphur coke, as they seek to fulfil long-term sales contracts with spot purchases of the more limited higher-sulphur grade. With spot availability of 6.5pc sulphur tighter and mid-sulphur more widely available than usual, some deals for the two grades have sold essentially at parity. One cement firm purchased a US Gulf high-sulphur coke cargo at $68-69/t fob last week, while a prompt June-loading mid-sulphur cargo was heard selling slightly above $69/t fob over the past week. Some buyers in India, where there is little particular appetite for mid-sulphur coke, have been offered this quality or even had it delivered under high-sulphur contracts. Both grades have been under pressure recently as freight rates have risen while demand in major consuming markets is fairly subdued on competitive coal and domestic coke prices. At least three Turkish buyers cancelled seaborne coke tenders this month in favour of Russian coal or competing in local refinery tenders, and Indian buyers are also increasing domestic coal purchases . There are also no signs of recovering demand in the Chinese market. Fuel-grade demand remains subdued in general on low coal prices, while stockpiles have risen on high purchasing in recent months , and many importers have shied away from US coke because of uncertainty around tariffs . By Alexander Makhlay fob USGC 4.5% S coke premium to 6.5% S coke $/t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Freights rise on war risk, pressure coke fob
Freights rise on war risk, pressure coke fob
Washington, 18 June (Argus) — Rising dry bulk freight rates driven by concerns around Israel's attacks on Iran are weighing on fob US Gulf prices for petroleum coke and boosting cfr prices, despite overall weak demand. "Freight [rates] are extremely strong, and this is putting heavy pressure on the fob prices," one trader said. "Freights for the next weeks are crazy." "You have almost a 10pc jump up in freights in the last three trading days," another trader said, as the freight market reacted to Israeli strikes against Iran that began on 13 June, sparking concerns over Middle East oil supply and the possibility of an additional war risk premium on marine insurance. Bunker prices in Fujairah, UAE, the world's third-largest marine fuels hub, have surged . Supramax freight rates from the US Gulf to India, one of the most common routes for petroleum coke, increased by $4-$5/t since last Thursday, while other shorter key routes, like the US Gulf to Turkey, have risen by $2-$3/t, according to multiple coke market participants. The Argus Supramax freight rate from the US Gulf to west coast India rose to $41.45/t on 16 June, up from $38.10/t on 12 June, while the US Gulf to Turkey rate jumped to $27/t from $24.05/t. Freight rates were already rising prior to the start of the conflict. "A month ago, there were a ton of ships in the Gulf, but a lot of those ships have been repositioned," a third trader said. "Vessel supply is not as healthy as it was a month or two ago." The additional concerns around marine insurance and higher bunkers are contributing to a "sugar high" among vessel owners, pushing them to raise offer levels as they feel confident in their positions for the time being, the third trader said. The increase has resulted in a jump in offer prices for US Gulf coke in India, and some deals have been heard done at significantly higher levels than in the latter half of last week. US Gulf coke sales were heard in the $106-$107/t range on a cfr west coast India basis in recent days, up from deals in the $100-$103/t range prior to 13 June. But many traders said these higher levels are not necessarily repeatable, as most large Indian buyers have not raised bids from the low-$100s/t. It is unlikely that Indian buyers will absorb the full increase in freight rates, since many are already adequately covered with fuel inventory, and coal prices are increasingly competitive. This means that sellers will need to lower expectations on an fob US Gulf basis to keep trade flowing. Traders will likely absorb much of the fob price impact, as they are holding most prompt cargoes at the moment. US Gulf high-sulphur supply is fairly tight , which is providing support to fob levels. "The thing is, if you call the refiners and ask for something, either they're not going to have it or it'll be higher" than Argus' last assessment on 11 June of $68/t for US 6.5pc sulphur fob US Gulf coke, the third trader said. "But nothing is netting back to $68 in any market right now when you take the freights into account." High-sulphur supply from Saudi Arabia was also already tight, and the tensions in the region could further disrupt shipments, especially from the Saudi Aramco-TotalEnergies Satorp joint venture 460,000 b/d Jubail refinery, located across from Iran on the country's eastern coast. Shipments from this refinery must move through the strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and the UAE, which some worry Iran could potentially block. Vessel owners are already looking to avoid traveling to this region . By Lauren Masterson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Lighter crude slates cut US Gulf HS coke supply
Lighter crude slates cut US Gulf HS coke supply
Houston, 11 June (Argus) — US Gulf coast high-sulphur fuel-grade petroleum coke spot availability has tightened in recent weeks as sulphur content and overall coke output have dipped because of lighter crude slates. US Gulf coke production is down by 15-25pc on account of refineries using lighter crudes, according to multiple sources. "Overall spot availability of cargoes from US refineries is low," one trader said. At least three or four refiners in both Texas and Louisiana that would typically produce 6.5pc sulphur fuel-grade coke have been producing closer to 5pc sulphur or less because lighter crudes tend to be sweeter, specifically cutting high-sulphur availability. US Gulf sour crude prices have risen so far in June because of low supply, a halt to Chevron's Venezuelan crude imports and concerns surrounding Canadian wildfires . July Mars was at about a $1.40/bl premium to US benchmark WTI at the Cushing hub in Oklahoma last week, about 30¢/bl higher than a week earlier and $1/bl firmer than at the start of the trade month, encouraging refiners to buy more light, sweet domestic crudes. Sour crudes tend to be heavier and contain more of the Conradson carbon that makes up petroleum coke. "WTI is pretty cheap right now," a second trader said. "Many refineries are using that, and it's a lighter crude." The threat of high US tariffs on Canadian and Mexican crude imports earlier in the year may have also encouraged refiners to switch away from these crudes, which make higher volumes of 6.5pc sulphur coke. Refiners may be taking more Latin American crudes, which tend to produce lower sulphur content coke. Colombian Castilla Blend and Vasconia have climbed by $3-$4/bl against WTI this year because of higher demand, and Colombia's crude exports to the US reached a five-month high in April, according to Kpler data. US Gulf coast asphalt prices have also been higher than coker yields in recent weeks, which may be contributing to lower coke production. Asphalt production has declined because of a narrow light-heavy crude spread, partly caused by the limited sour crude availability, and refinery outages in the first quarter. Coker yields have been below asphalt values for 10 consecutive weeks, with the Argus -calculated coker yield holding a $14.50/short tonne discount to Gulf asphalt on 6 June. Traders seeking replacement high-sulphur supply could be further tightening the fob US Gulf spot market. Traders receiving mid-sulphur under high-sulphur contracts are looking to sell that supply into the mid-sulphur market at a higher return, rather than use it to fulfil contractual obligations for high-sulphur coke. "If I expected to get 6pc and I get 4.5pc, I'm going to go into the market and buy 6pc," another trader said. This may explain why some recent refiner sales have gone at significantly higher levels than netback prices from traders selling contracted supply into delivered markets. Although there are not a lot of downstream buyers seeking fob-basis cargoes, traders are needing to cover short positions, while there are "not a lot of refinery tonnes out there", a fourth trader said. "We are not able to find any spot cargo from refineries," the first trader said, which is supporting prices "even though demand is not great." But the tighter availability from refiners is not causing prices to rise, as there is still a lot of contracted volume in traders' hands, and demand has been relatively weak. Traders still have a lot of volume to move in July and August, a fifth trader said. Another factor is higher supply from refiners outside the US Gulf: Spanish refiner Repsol has begun producing high-sulphur coke at one of its refineries , and there is also new high-sulphur supply from Mexico . Weak demand for high-sulphur coke from buyers in India, China and Turkey, where coal has been competitive, still pushed the fob US Gulf 6.5pc sulphur coke price down by 50¢/t last week. The spread between mid- and high-sulphur has also been narrowing because of the tightness in high-sulphur combined with greater mid-sulphur availability. The 4.5pc sulphur US Gulf price's premium to 6.5pc sulphur has held at $4.50-$5/t over the past three assessment weeks, down from $11/t on the week of 15 April and the lowest since early February. By Lauren Masterson and Hadley Medlock Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Turkey's cement output, sales may rise in 1H
Turkey's cement output, sales may rise in 1H
London, 19 May (Argus) — Turkey's cement production may increase slightly in the first half of this year because of improving exports to key destinations and growing seaborne markets for the material. Some market participants expect cement firms in Turkey to produce about 41-43mn t of cement in the first half of this year to support an increase in exports and the potential for some buyers to return to the country's cement market. In contrast, the country produced 40.6mn t in January-June 2024, the latest data from the Turkish Cement Manufacturers' Association (TCMA) show. Low prices for fuels like petroleum coke and coal are likely to contribute to firm cement output and a rebound in exports after a sharp reduction a year before. The Turkish lira has also continued to weaken against the US dollar since March , which may help offset a decrease in export prices, making exports more profitable for cement makers. While Turkey's cement exports declined slightly to 3.74mn t in the first quarter from 3.96mn t the same quarter in 2024, sales to markets such as Italy, Syria, Albania, Guyana, Haiti and the UK were on the rise, according to data from Global Trade Tracker (GTT). And it is possible that Ukraine could become a potential destination for Turkey's cement exports, as demand from the country's construction sector may grow sharply on the beginning of talks of an end to Russia's invasion . Some stabalisation of the conflict in Gaza may also boost trades to the region and could lead to the cancellation of the country's Israel trade ban from April 2024, many market participants said. Turkey's total cement exports fell by 15pc on the year in 2024 to 13mn t following the country's ban on cement sales to Israel, one of its largest consuming markets. The country's cement sales to Israel fell to 926,000t in 2024, down from 3.48mn t in 2023, according to GTT. But limited cement sales to Israel may still happen this year through longer supply chains involving third-party countries, according to some market participants. Clinker exports also increased to 1.8mn t in the first quarter, up from 1.4mn t a year before, because of high demand from Europe and Africa. But high interest rates at 46pc and expected inflation rates at 36pc in May could still limit the uptick in Turkey's cement production and sales, as they continue to pressure domestic demand for cement. Uncertainty surrounding government and private spending on construction and infrastructure projects could also contribute to lower domestic cement demand. Cement production rose by about 6pc on the year in 2024 to 84.8mn t, while clinker production picked up by 6pc to 77.53mn t, according to TCMA. Total domestic sales for these materials grew by 9pc year on year in 2024 to 71mn t because of rebuilding in the southern regions after two major earthquakes struck Turkey in February 2023. By Alexander Makhlay Turkey's cement domestic and export sales mn t Turkey's cement and clinker exports mn t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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