Polish Coke becomes a hot commodity

The exports of Polish Coke (PK) totaled 2.3 million tons during H1 which indicates it might be a bumper year for the company taking into account that it exported 3 million tons for the whole of 2005. At the beginning of this year coke prices grew by USD 8 per ton. It is expected to grow by another 8-10% before the end of the year. PK is controlled by the Jastrzębska Coal Company, (JSW). PK plans to export 4.5 million tons by the end of 2006. Other Polish coke producers are also working at full capacity. Mittal Steel Poland's coke plant in Zdzieszowice launched a new coke production line in July and is going to continue investments in increasing its capacity. A similar situation can be found in JSW-owned Przyjaźń Coke Plant in Silesia. Due to rapidly growing steel production (for which coke is indispensable), Poland is the second largest world coke exporter, just after China. Polish coke plants current capacity is 10.5 million tons, of which 5-6 million could be exported. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) J.L.