Chinese Ministry of Commerce has recently announced the requirements on application for coke export quota for 2008 to further raise the threshold on coke export.

   According to quota application conditions and application procedures issued by the Ministry of Commerce, coke production enterprises applying for export quota must meet the following requirements: 1. Coke export supply shall reach 250,000 tons or more in 2006, or exceed 200,000 tons each year in recent three years (2004-2006); 2. Product quality is up to the state-set standards and has the ISO9000 quality certification.

   Circulation enterprises applying for coke export are required to have registered capital of 50 million yuan and more, and annual coke export volume reaching 200,000 tons and more, or internal trade right with export supply reaching or exceeding 400,000 tons in 2004-2006.

   In recent years, China has again and again raised the threshold on export of coke, aiming to raising concentration of export operation and reducing number of export enterprises.

   The higher standards will force more enterprises to withdraw from export of coke.

   By July 1 of this year, the Ministry of Commerce issued two batches of quotas, totaling 13.292 million tons, about the total quota of 14 million tons for 2005 and 2006. The quota was given to 41 companies of the 60 applicants, indicating further increase of the concentration.

   China's export of coke reached 11.73 million tons in the first nine months of this year, rising 9.6 percent year on year, 12.8 percentage point lower than the 22.4 percent growth in the first half of this year, according to statistics from the customs.

   According to an industry expert, China's coke output reached 290 million tons in 2006, and apparent consumption was 283.18 million tons, up 17.32 percent year on year. The coke output in 2007 is estimated to reach more than 300 million tons, which is forecast to rise further in 2008.

   As coke production brings about big damage on environment, developed countries depend much on import to satisfy domestic needs while restricting production at home. Experts have persisted in that China's coke production shall first satisfy domestic demand.