Q1. The coke industry currently faces many challenges, such as the imposition of tariffs by Europe and the United States, which has led to significant fluctuations in coke prices recently. What impact do you think this will have on coke imports in Southeast Asia and the steel and coking coal industries?

Regarding the coke import situation in Southeast Asia, coke plays a pivotal role in connecting coking coal and steel:

• Steel Mills: If coke imports increase and prices remain stable or decline, it will help reduce production costs for Southeast Asian steel enterprises, enhancing their competitiveness in the international market. However, if global coke market volatility drives prices up, it will increase production costs for steel companies, squeezing profit margins and potentially leading to higher steel prices, which could dampen market demand. Changes in coke supply will also affect steel production plans. If coke supply is sufficient and prices are reasonable, steel mills may increase output; otherwise, they may adjust production schedules and reduce output.
• Coking Plants: If steel mills ramp up production, the demand for coke will rise, subsequently increasing the demand for coking coal as a raw material.

From the perspective of Europe’s carbon tariffs, Europe is expected to gradually reduce its demand for coke in the future. However, Southeast Asia’s demand for coke remains relatively stable, particularly in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea. South Korea is projected to face a coke supply gap in the future, which will likely be filled by Indonesian coking enterprises.

Q2. In recent years, green coke and hydrogen metallurgy have become hot topics. Does Detian have corresponding technologies and future development plans?

• Detian Coking adopts the 7-meter large-capacity compound heating top-charging coke oven independently developed by Zhongye Coking. This technology is equipped with advanced features such as gas collection pressure regulation and waste heat recovery from ascension pipes, offering advantages like low environmental emissions, reduced coking energy consumption, and a tightly sealed structure. It produces coke with higher density, greater strength, and superior high-temperature resistance.
• Waste Heat Recovery Application: The ascension pipe waste heat recovery technology uses nano-coated self-cleaning heat exchange equipment, solving issues such as high-temperature corrosion, water leakage, and tar buildup. It efficiently recovers waste heat from raw gas, producing saturated steam and high-temperature superheated steam at various pressures, with significant annual steam output, delivering notable economic and social benefits.
• Energy-Saving and Emission-Reduction Technologies: The plant employs sulfur-rich wastewater recycling to produce sulfuric acid, eliminating dilute acid discharge. It also uses coke modifiers to enhance thermal strength and reduce coal blending costs. Additionally, industrial circulating water is optimized with electric descaling technology to save water and energy.
• Smart Production Applications: The intelligent coking system integrates AI, IoT, big data analytics, and automated controls to monitor data throughout the entire coking cycle—from coal charging to coke pushing. It enables rapid data analysis and autonomous optimization, ensuring uniform furnace temperatures, improving coke yield and quality, reducing energy consumption, and cutting labor costs.
• Coke Cooling Application: The plant utilizes wet quenching technology and is prepared for dry quenching. It uses circulating water to cool high-temperature coke, converting the heat generated during cooling into steam for power generation or other industrial heating, achieving high energy efficiency.

Q3. The AsiaCoke Summit focuses on coke trade and technology in the Asia-Pacific region. Does Detian Coking plan to deepen cooperation with steel mills in Southeast Asia or Indian enterprises?

In 2022, India’s finished steel consumption reached 113 million tons, a 9.7% increase from 2021. In 2023, consumption rose to 129 million tons, up 14% year-on-year, and in 2024, it reached 133 million tons, a 13.2% increase over 2023. During the 2023-24 fiscal year, consumption grew by 3.6% year-on-year. Data from the Steel Ministry shows that India’s per capita steel consumption doubled from 59 kg in 2013-14 to 119 kg in 2022-23. India’s crude steel production increased from 109 million tons in 2019-20 to 149 million tons in 2023-24, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.2%. Given these trends, India’s crude steel production and per capita steel consumption are rising steadily, driving an annual increase in coke demand. India will undoubtedly be one of our key markets in the future. Upholding the principle of serving global blast furnaces, Detian Coking is committed to providing high-quality products and services to blast furnaces worldwide, including those in Southeast Asia, ensuring smooth operations.

Q4. What do you think will be the biggest driver of change in the global coking industry over the next three years?

Over the next three years, from a regional perspective, the Asian market—especially India—will see sustained growth in demand for coke and coking by-products due to accelerating industrialization and urbanization. In contrast, Europe and the U.S. may experience stable or declining demand due to stringent environmental regulations and energy transition efforts. South America is also emerging as a potential growth market.
Technologically, advancements in the steel industry, such as the trend toward larger blast furnaces, will drive demand for high-quality coke. Detian Coking employs cutting-edge technologies like waste heat recovery from ascension pipes, steam preheating reuse, and gas purification to enhance production efficiency, energy utilization, and reduce emissions.
Detian Coking already offers customized coke production to meet the diverse needs of blast furnaces of all sizes. As part of the Shanghai Delong Steel Group, Detian anticipates increased investments in Indonesian steel production over the next three years, with plans to expand capacity to 20 million tons. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Detian Coking.