Global prices for coking coal remain stable at the end of April

Global coking coal prices fluctuated slightly in the second half of April, while trading activity on the Chinese market increased in the run-up to the holidays.

According to Kallanish, the price of high-quality coking coal FOB Australia as of April 24, 2026, stood at $237.6/t, showing little change compared to the previous week (April 17).

Spot prices for coking coal in China (EXW, Anze) on the same date stood at $222.4/t, compared to $222.8/t at the end of the previous week.

Overall, since March 20, the price of coking coal FOB Australia has risen by 6%, while the price EXW, Anze has risen by 4.4%.

Prices for Australian seaborne coking coal have been fluctuating slightly within a certain range since mid-April amid slowing demand. Market sentiment is being shaped by uncertainty surrounding the conflict in the Middle East. However, traders do not expect prices to fall below a certain level ($230/t), as this would mean selling at a loss.

According to Mysteel, trading activity in China’s coking coal market increased between April 17 and 24. End-users stepped up restocking ahead of the five-day Labor Day holiday, which begins on May 1. At the start of this week, sentiment in the domestic market remained stable thanks to steady sales and an improvement in the steel market, and coking coal prices even gained some upward momentum.

On April 24, several major coke producers in northern China announced a price increase for coke of 50–55 yuan per ton amid strong pre-holiday demand and relatively limited supply. The increase took effect on April 27, though major steel producers had not yet responded to it by the start of the week.

Overall, at the end of April, prices in Asian coking coal markets are showing some stability amid cautious purchasing by India and China. However, sentiment is being influenced by concerns over freight costs and ongoing uncertainty regarding supply capabilities amid the conflict with Iran.

As a reminder, in the first half of April, the Asian coking coal market continued to react to the conflict in the Middle East. In China, prices are under pressure from increased production at local mines, while in India, they are affected by high buyer inventories.