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.
Turkish lira at all-time low against dollar
Turkish lira at all-time low against dollar
London, 19 March (Argus) — Turkey's lira currency fell to record lows against the US dollar today, after the arrest of Istanbul's mayor provoked concern about instability. The depreciation could cause imports of dollar-denominated commodities to become more expensive, although reaction was mixed across markets. The lira went as low at 40/$1 in early trading, from below 37/$1 on Tuesday 18 March, before easing to around 38/$1 later in the day. The lira has been slowly depreciating against the dollar for many years, but the sharp fall today came after Ekrem Imamoglu, one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rivals, was held on suspicion of corruption and aiding a terrorist organisation. Turkey is a significant importer of natural gas, crude and LPG, as well as coal and petcoke, although demand for many commodities will be muted currently because of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Early indications from the coal and petcoke markets were that all import trades had halted as the lira hit the record low. In polymers markets the focus is on whether demand recovers after Ramadan ends on 30 March. But a trading source in Turkey said the fall is not enough for "massive changes" to imports of oil products. The OECD forecasts headline inflation in Turkey at 31.4pc this year, the highest among its members, easing to 17.3pc in 2026. The IMF has forecast Turkey's economy will grow by 2.6pc this year, after an expansion of 2.7pc in 2024. By Ben Winkley, Aydin Calik, Joseph Clarke, Amaar Khan and Dila Odluyurt Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
St Louis harbor water levels to improve
St Louis harbor water levels to improve
Houston, 4 March (Argus) — Water levels at the St Louis, Missouri, harbor are forecast to rise above 0ft this week, the National Weather Service (NWS) said, allowing for easier barge transit at the harbor after weeks of low water concerns. St Louis is forecast to receive multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms today, including some hail, with around 1 inch of precipitation expected to pour over the greater St Louis area, according to the NWS. As water from the tributaries reaches the harbor into this weekend, levels as high as 10.7ft are expected by 11 March. This rain is long awaited as the St Louis harbor has been grappling with low water conditions since early January. These conditions were exacerbated by minimal rainfall in February, causing water levels to fall below -3ft at the terminal. Some barge carriers will finally be able to resume loading at their docks after calling off all barge movement due to the low water. Draft restrictions are anticipated to slowly loosen in the coming days as water levels rise, and more weight can be placed on barges. Current draft restrictions are between 9.6-10ft at St Louis. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US coke output falls in 2024
US coke output falls in 2024
Houston, 3 March (Argus) — US marketable coke production fell by 3pc in 2024 from the prior year as coke output declined in every region except the east coast. The US produced about 39.3mn t of coke in 2024, down from 40.7mn t produced a year earlier, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), even as US refinery utilisation averaged 91pc in 2024, slightly up from an average of 90pc in 2023. Coke production likely dropped despite higher utilisation because a California refinery permanently closed in February. Unplanned outages at some facilities in the midcontinent and Rocky Mountain region also lowered output last year. In December, US coke output totalled 3.5mn t, nearly flat to the same month in 2023. Total US refinery utilisation was flat on the year in December at 93pc. The US west coast refining region led declines in coke production in 2024, down by 10pc to 5.6mn t. US independent refiner Phillips 66's 115,000 b/d Rodeo, California, refinery ceased crude processing in February 2024 , which weighed on the region's coke output during the year. Average refinery utilisation in this region was up by 3pc to 92pc, likely because other refineries increased rates following the Rodeo shutdown. US west coast coke production was also down in December, falling by 9pc to 459,000t from a year earlier, while refinery utilisation remained flat at 91pc from a year earlier. Coke production also fell significantly in the US midcontinent, falling by 5pc to 8.7mn t last year from 2023. Average monthly refinery utilisation declined by 1pc to 91pc in 2024 from the prior year. BP's 435,000 b/d Whiting, Indiana, refinery shut down operations for six weeks after a weather-related power outage in early February, and ExxonMobil's 252,000 b/d Joliet refinery in Channahon, Illinois, also had an extended outage and multiple process upsets following severe weather in mid-July . Cenovus also had unplanned maintenance at its Ohio refineries last summer . Midcontinent output was also down in December, falling by 5pc to about 800,000t from a year earlier. Refinery utilisation was down by nearly 2 percentage points to 93pc on the year. Production in the Rocky Mountains dropped to 916,200t last year from about 1mnt in 2023. This was despite average refinery utilisation in the Rocky Mountains increasing by nearly 4pc to 92pc in 2024. A pair of Montana refineries had coker outages in July and August, according to market participants, and HF Sinclair had a 40-day turnaround at its 75,000 b/d Sinclair, Wyoming, refinery in the fourth quarter of 2024, with work focused on the plant's coker unit. The company's 55,000 b/d Salt Lake City, Utah, refinery, which produces anode-grade coke, was also temporarily down in mid-October after a power outage. In December, coke output in the Rocky Mountains rose by 5pc to 90,900t on the year, while refinery utilisation fell by 1 percentage point to 88pc. Output on the US Gulf coast, the country's largest coke producing region, remained fairly flat to the prior year at 23.6mn t. This was down by just 1pc from 2023. Production in the Texas inland refining region grew by 53pc on the year in 2024, which partly offset declines across the US Gulf coast's other refining regions. Output in the Louisiana-Arkansas refining region declined the most, falling by 29pc on the year. Average refinery utilisation remained flat at 91pc in the US Gulf coast last year. US Gulf coast coke output rose by 3pc to 2.1mn t in December from a year earlier, and refinery utilisation increased by 1 percentage point to 95pc. The US east coast was the only region that lifted output during the year. Coke production rose by 18pc to 512,500t. But this is not one of the country's largest coke producing regions. Refinery utilisation on the east coast averaged 85pc in 2024, unchanged from 2023. In December, coke production in this region also rose slightly to 49,000t, even as refinery utilisation fell by 6 percentage points on the year to 82pc. By Hadley Medlock US coke output '000t Region Dec 24 Dec 23 ±% Nov 24 ±% Jan-Dec 24 Jan-Dec 23 ±% Atlantic coast 49 5 19 513 18 Midcontinent 800 -5 25 8,725 -5 Gulf coast 2,063 3 1 23,560 -1 Rocky Mountains 91 5 -7 916 -11 West coast 459 -9 -3 5,607 -10 US total 3,462 -1 5 39,321 -3 —EIA Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mid-sulphur coke to tighten on end of VZ waiver
Mid-sulphur coke to tighten on end of VZ waiver
Houston, 28 February (Argus) — US Gulf coast mid-sulphur petroleum coke supplies will likely decrease later this year if the US government follows through on a threat to cancel Chevron's waiver allowing it to import and sell Venezuelan crude in the US. Trump on 26 February said that his administration will not renew the waiver , which had been issued in 2022 under former US president Joe Biden's administration . The waiver had allowed US refineries to resume running Venezuelan crude for the first time since 2019. Stopping the flow of Venezuelan oil to the US Gulf will likely lead to tighter mid-sulphur coke supplies, as refineries tend to produce coke with a lower sulphur content when running Venezuelan crude. US imports of Venezuelan crude jumped by 76pc to 83.55mn bl in full-year 2024 compared with 2023. Chevron's 357,000 b/d Pascagoula, Mississippi, refinery was the top taker at 18.83mn bl, making up 23pc of Venezuelan crude imports. Chevron's Pascagoula refinery has been producing coke with a lower sulphur content in recent months, market participants said. Valero's 215,000 b/d St Charles refinery in Norco, Louisiana, was the second-leading destination for this crude last year, receiving 16.44mn bl, or 20pc of the US's crude imports from Venezuela that year. This refinery has shifted to producing some mid-sulphur coke recently as well, sources said. A February-loading cargo of St Charles coke with 5pc sulphur was sold in mid-January. Valero also had St Charles mid-sulphur coke supply available for loading in February and March, a trader said in mid-February. US Gulf coast mid-sulphur coke supply was already set to decline this year because of the planned shutdown of LyondellBasell's 264,000 b/d Houston refinery, a mid-to-high sulphur coke producer. LyondellBasell had already shut a coking unit by the end of January and planned to shut a second coker in February . Venezuelan coke output could fall as well, as much of the country's coke production comes as a byproduct from upgraders that process Venezuela's extra-heavy crude. Chevron had been importing condensate needed to dilute this crude, helping to boost output to its highest level since 2018 . But the country has large stockpiles of coke , meaning lower production is not likely to affect seaborne supply in the near future. By Delaney Ramirez Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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