US petroleum coke exports to China surged in September compared with the month prior, even as shipments to other top coke-buying countries fell.

The US increased exports to China by 73pc on the month in September to 352,400t, according to customs data compiled by Global Trade Tracker (GTT). China was the only importer among the leading five US coke-purchasing countries to increase its orders for September-loading coke compared with August.

The bulk of US coke exports to China in September — 91pc — loaded from ports in the US west coast, where most coke production is mid- or low-sulphur. Exports from the Los Angeles, California, port district more than doubled on the month to 164,400t. And 155,000t were loaded from the San Francisco, California, port district, up from zero exports in August. US Gulf coast ports shipped no coke to China in September, likely because Chinese buyers preferred to avoid the Panama Canal because of long wait times.

US exports to China decreased by 29pc on the year in September, as coke inventories at Chinese ports remained high. For the first nine months of the year, US exports to China totalled 3.7mn t, down by 19pc from the same period last year.

Overall, US green coke exports fell to 2.2mn t, down by 26pc on the month and by 24pc on the year. But from January-September, US exports increased by 5pc to 26.5mn t, even as US marketable coke production held steady at 27.1mn t, according to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration.

India was the leading destination for US coke loading in September at 388,100t, even as volumes loaded for the country weakened by 22pc on the month and by 20pc on the year. Indian cement makers’ interest in coal rose in August as September-loading petroleum coke offers pushed higher, with buyers heard purchasing cargoes of NAR 6,900 kcal/kg US NAPP coal, NAR 6,000 kcal/kg Russian coal and high-calorific value Indonesian coal, reducing demand for seaborne coke.

Exports to Mexico fell by 31pc on the month to 230,400t and by 41pc on the year.

The US shipped 229,100t to Brazil in September, down by 36pc from the prior month but up by 9pc on the year, following a trend of higher US exports to Brazil. Loadings for Japan dropped to 173,800t in September, down by 40pc on the month and by 48pc on the year.

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