National Bureau of Statistics data show that steel demand in 2011, driven by the upstream coke production increased significantly. With the "second five" growth rate of decline in crude steel, coking coal and coke business loss costs increased coke production in 2012 will increase to 5% of the annual coke production is maintained at 450 million tons level.
Total annual coke production in 2011 increased 11.8%, to 4.27 million tons. Monthly data to see the chain: December 2011 coke production last month grew by 67 million tons, or 2%. See the ring data from the quarter: fourth quarter 2011 production was 100 million tons, down 8.08 million tons compared with the third quarter, the chain fell 7% or more. Visible, steel prices and production down sharply in the fourth quarter, effectively inhibited the growth of coke production. Degree of data, from 2011 years: June and August, the highest level of annual production of coke, a single month nearly 38 million tons; November to February and the lowest point of coke production, monthly output was only 32 million tons of coke higher digit month low output 600 million tons.
Coke production in 2011, this rapid growth, the most important factor is the lower crude steel, pig iron production increased significantly. 2011 annual crude steel production of pig iron to maintain high growth, the annual crude steel production reached a record high 683 million tons level, growth rate of 8.9%. From the monthly data, the coke yield and crude steel production in the monthly trend of convergence. Down by domestic demand and economic impact of crude steel is expected to increase in speed will be a callback, 2012 will be over 700 million tons of crude steel production level.
Lead to coke production up another important factor is excess capacity. Limited production of some enterprises in Shanxi coke rate was 60% level, while coking enterprises in Shandong limiting the production of coke in the fourth quarter, about 30%, while coke coking enterprises nationwide in 2011 only 75% utilization level, but in 550 million tons of coke production capacity of large context, the coke production is an inevitable upward trend. (Mu Wenxin)