Coke enterprises in Shanxi, one of China's largest coke producers, began to cut coke price by 100yuan/ton on the ground of the weak demand, the bad performance of steel industry and the increase of coke export tariff.

    Coke enterprises had increased coke price for seven times in the first half of 2008, with 3,000 yuan/ton in August, up 100 percent over the early this year.

    It's the first time to reduce coke price by 3 percent. Expert sheld that there is room for the decline of price on the concerns of market downturn.

    Shanxi Coke Industry Association called on enterprises to limit their production by 40 percent to 50 percent, and to reduce the coke price by 5 percent in August.

    After this move, the tax-included price for coke fell to 2,750yuan/ton to 2,850 yuan/ton.

    At present, coke sales were stagnated as high coke price hindered the purchase from steel enterprises.

    Steel enterprises in Southeast China began to reduce coke purchase price and those in North China still maintained their purchase price.

    Coke price would fall in line with the weak demand from steel enterprises and the declined steel price in China's market.