Russian Metallurgical (Blast Furnace) Coke: Standards and Export / Articles

Metallurgical, or blast furnace, coke occupies a unique position in the ferrous metallurgy chain. Unlike thermal coal, it is not burned in its pure form, but performs three functions simultaneously in the blast furnace: fuel (providing high temperature), reducing (participating in the reduction of iron from ore) and technological (ensuring gas permeability of the charge column). Russia is among the world's largest producers of blast furnace coke, second only to China in volume but maintaining stable positions in export markets. For the B2B segment, coke matters both as a strategic raw material for steel plants and as an export commodity whose quality is strictly regulated and whose logistics are determined by rail and port infrastructure.

Quality Standards: GOST 5.1261-2023 and KD Grade

Quality requirements for blast furnace coke in Russia and EAEU countries are established by GOST 5.1261-2023 "Carboniferous blast furnace coke. Quality requirements for products", put into effect on 1 February 2024 to replace GOST 5.1261-72. The standard applies to KD grade coke with a lump size of more than 25 mm (and more than 40 mm depending on the class) and is intended for blast furnace production.

Key controlled parameters include:

Shatter strength (M25) - characterises the ability of coke lumps to withstand impact loads during charging into the furnace. For quality blast furnace coke, the value is typically not less than 80-85%.
Abrasion (M10) - shows the share of fines formed under mechanical impact. For blast furnace coke, it is regulated at not more than 7-9%.
Porosity - affects reactivity and gas permeability. Typical values for Russian coke are 45-50%.
Sulphur content - one of the most important parameters, since sulphur passes into pig iron and requires additional desulphurisation costs. For blast furnace coke, typically not more than 0.5-0.6%.
Ash content - determines the amount of ballast impurities. For quality coke, it is regulated at 10-12%.
Reactivity (CRI) and strength after reaction with CO2 (CSR) - modern parameters characterising coke behaviour in the blast furnace. For stable furnace operation, CSR of at least 60-65% and CRI of not more than 20-25% are sought.

The standard also regulates moisture, fines content (fractions below 25 mm) and other parameters. Compliance with GOST is critical for exporters: deviations in sulphur or strength can lead to grade degradation, penalties and price reductions. For foundry coke used in cupolas, a separate standard GOST 3340-2018 applies, but for blast furnace production it is GOST 5.1261-2023 that is used.

Production Technology and Coke Oven Batteries

Blast furnace coke production is based on high-temperature pyrolysis of coal charge - a mixture of coking coals of various grades (G, Zh, K, OS and others). The key element of coke chemical production is the coke oven battery - a complex of dozens of chambers in which the charge is heated without air access to a temperature of 1000-1100 °C for 14-18 hours.

The technological cycle includes charge loading, coking, discharge of incandescent coke, quenching (wet or dry) and sorting. Dry coke quenching (DCQ) is considered more modern and environmentally friendly: it allows the heat of incandescent coke to be utilised for steam generation and reduces emissions. Wet quenching is simpler and cheaper but involves heat losses and higher water consumption.

Russian companies are actively modernising coke capacity. In November 2025, Evraz ZSMK commissioned coke oven battery No. 2 with a capacity of up to 750 thousand tonnes of coke per year after a major reconstruction. The project included technical re-equipment of coke sorting, coke quenching systems and coke oven gas cleaning. This provides the blast furnace production with its own high-quality coke and reduces environmental impact. Similar projects are being implemented at other enterprises: modernisation of NTMK's coke chemical production and introduction of new units for electrode pitch production.

Production and Industry Structure

According to the DELOVOY PROFIL group, total coal coke production in Russia in 2025 remains at about 28 million tonnes, although according to Rosstat (OKPD2 19.10.10.110), coke and semi-coke output in 2025 amounted to 22.57 million tonnes, down 6.5% year-on-year. The discrepancy is explained by differences in accounting methodology: industry analysts include all types of coke chemical products in their estimate, while official statistics cover a narrower category. According to the International Conference "Coke Chemical Industry", coke output in Russia in 2025 was about 26 million tonnes, corresponding to less than 5% of the global total (for comparison, China produces about 500 million tonnes, or almost 70% of the global market).

The industry is highly concentrated: over 85% of capacity is controlled by four vertically integrated holdings - NLMK, Evraz, Severstal and Mechel. The largest enterprises include:

NLMK - Lipetsk Coke Plant (4.8 million t/year) and Stary Oskol Coke Plant (3.2 million t/year).
Altai-Koks (part of Evraz) - 4.5 million t/year, Altai Krai.
Evraz - Abashevsky coke chemical production (2.5 million t/year) and Nizhny Tagil Coke Plant (3.0 million t/year).
Severstal - Cherepovets Coke Plant.
Mechel - Chelyabinsk Coke Plant.

Geographically, capacity is distributed as follows: Kuzbass - up to 40%, Urals and Western Siberia - 35%, Central Russia - 25%. This structure ensures proximity to the raw material base (coking coals) and to major steel plants.

Exports: Geography and Dynamics

Russian blast furnace coke exports remain an important sales channel, although volumes are not comparable to thermal coal exports. According to DELOVOY PROFIL, total coke exports in 2024 amounted to about 6.3 million tonnes. In certain months of 2025, shipments reached significant levels: according to NEFT Research, in August 2025 about 5.5 million tonnes of coke were shipped for export, mainly to China. However, these data may include both blast furnace coke and coking products, so precise classification of goods is important when working with contracts.

Key export destinations:

China - remains the largest buyer of Russian coke despite fluctuations in demand and growth in its own production. Russian coke is valued for stable quality and low impurity content.
India - the second most important market. In April 2025, India launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of metallurgical coke from Russia, China, Australia, Colombia, Indonesia and Japan, creating regulatory risks. Nevertheless, Russian suppliers expect an increase in supplies under a memorandum envisaging an increase in coke exports to India to 40 million tonnes by 2035.
Turkey, Middle East and North Africa - promising destinations that Russian exporters consider as an alternative to China. Advantages include convenient logistics and temporarily reduced competition from Australia.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam - Southeast Asian markets where metallurgical production and coke demand are growing.

The global metallurgical coke market was under pressure in 2025: according to BigMint, metallurgical coke exports in January-October 2025 fell by 5% year-on-year to about 25 million tonnes due to falling steel production in China, Japan and the EU. Chinese coke exports fell by 15%, and Indian imports by 13% due to quantitative restrictions and anti-dumping measures. This increases competition in Asian markets but simultaneously opens opportunities for Russian suppliers in segments where quality and supply stability matter more than price.

Logistics and Infrastructure

Russian blast furnace coke logistics relies on rail transport and seaports. Unlike thermal coal, coke requires more careful handling: during transshipment and transportation, it is important to minimise lump degradation, since fines (fractions below 25 mm) reduce the product's value for blast furnace production.

Key export routes:

Western direction - through Baltic ports (Ust-Luga, Primorsk) and Black Sea ports (Novorossiysk, Tuapse) for supplies to Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa.
Eastern direction - through Far Eastern ports (Vostochny, Vanino, Vladivostok) for supplies to China, India and ASEAN countries. The capacity of the Eastern Polygon remains limited, affecting delivery times and costs.
Rail border crossings - for direct supplies to China and Central Asia.

Specialised open-top wagons and containers are used for transportation. Marine transshipment uses covered warehouses and grab cranes to ensure minimal degradation. Financial support for the transaction may include letters of credit, bank guarantees and cargo insurance, especially for supplies to remote regions.

Regulation and Environmental Challenges

Coke chemical production is one of the most environmentally sensitive industries. Russia is tightening emission requirements: new coke oven batteries are equipped with dry quenching systems, biochemical coke oven gas cleaning and modern dust suppression systems. For example, Evraz NTMK's modernisation project worth RUB 5 billion aims to reduce emissions of specific pollutants by 140.7 tonnes per year.

At the international level, a key challenge is the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which from 2026 introduces additional charges of USD 10-15 per tonne on goods with a high carbon footprint, including coke. This may reduce the competitiveness of traditional exporters, especially China, and stimulate a transition to greener production technologies.

Anti-dumping investigations and quantitative restrictions by India and other countries also shape the regulatory environment. For Russian exporters, this means diversifying markets and increasing supply chain transparency.

Prospects and Selection Factors

The Russian blast furnace coke industry remains resilient due to vertical integration with steel plants and capacity modernisation. Key growth factors are the recovery of steel demand in Asia, expansion of supplies to India, Turkey and the Middle East, and the development of dry quenching and carbon footprint reduction technologies.

For buyers, not only price per tonne matters but also quality stability (M25 strength, M10 abrasion, CSR, CRI, sulphur, ash), delivery terms (FOB, CIF, DES, rail supplies), supply chain reputation, availability of rolling stock and port capacity, and compliance with environmental and anti-dumping requirements. Understanding standards, differences between coke grades and the structure of logistics flows helps reduce risks and build long-term contracts with Russian producers.

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