China is to raise the coke export tariff rate to 40 percent as of August
20, up from 25 percent, said the State Council's customs tariff commission on
Friday.
This move aims to ease a tight coke supply in domestic markets and to contain
export of products with high pollution and energy cost.
China is the world's biggest coke exporter, which accounts for 60 percent of
the coke trade volume.
Despite some western country's move in reducing coke production for
environmental reasons, China's coke exports have continued to increase in recent
years.
Coke exports surged to 14.50 million tonnes in 2006, representing an increase
of 14 times in 15 years since 1991. The figure hit a record 1.66 million tonnes
in May this year.
The nation's coke exports, however, hit a turning point in July, when the
government decided to adjust its export policy to tackle the problem. Coke
export in July fell to 830,000 tonnes, down 10 percent year on year.
China's move in raising export tariffs indicated that the government had made
its decision to reduce coke exports, said market analysts.
