The current status and distribution of coking plants across the country exhibit distinct characteristics of \"large total capacity, high regional concentration, and continuous structural optimization\"

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The 25th National \"Safety Production Month\" in 2026: Everyone talks about safety, and everyone knows how to handle emergencies; identifying and addressing risks and hazards. -------------------------------------------------- Based on the latest market data and industry reports, the current situation and distribution of coking plants across the country are characterized by a large total production capacity, high concentration in certain regions, and a continuous improvement in their structure. I. Overall scale and number of enterprises: As of now, the total operational capacity for metallurgical coking across the country is approximately 570 million tons. With the accelerated elimination of outdated production capacity and the constraints imposed by environmental policies, the number of coking enterprises across the country has dropped to over 450 (around 300–500 according to some reporting methods), and overall production capacity is showing a steady decline. In terms of enterprise type, independent coking plants still hold a dominant position, accounting for about 64% of the total production capacity ； Meanwhile, the capacity share of coking plants built by steel mills themselves accounts for about 36%. However, in recent years, as market competition has intensified, the proportion of steel companies that rely on their own coking capacity has been gradually increasing. II. Distribution pattern in core areas: The distribution of coking capacity and production across the country is highly uneven, with it being concentrated mainly in areas where raw materials are available and that are close to demand markets. The combined production capacity of the four main production regions of Shanxi, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, and Shandong accounts for more than half of the country’s total production capacity. The specific distribution is as follows: Shanxi Province: As the largest coke production base in the country, and thanks to its abundant coking coal resources, it maintains the highest production capacity, accounting for around 20%–28% of the total national capacity (approximately 114 million to 128 million tons). Industrial clusters are mainly concentrated in Taiyuan, Lüliang, Changzhi and other areas. Hebei Province: It ranks in the second or third tier nationwide, with a production capacity of around 72 million to 80 million tons. Leveraging the coordinated development strategy of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, its coking industry has formed a close circular economy system with local industries such as steel and building materials, with production concentrated in cities like Tangshan and Handan. Shandong Province: Its production capacity is around 105 million tons, placing it among the top regions. The coking industry in this province is characterized by a combination of coal chemical and petrochemical processes, and it is transitioning toward higher-value product lines through technological upgrades; it is mainly located in cities such as Zibo, Weifang, and Linyi. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: Production capacity is approximately 86 million tons. Leveraging the advantages of the \"Mengdong Coal and Electricity\" base, coking coal is available in ample quantities at low costs, with the industry primarily concentrated in places such as Ordos, Baotou, and Wuhai. In addition, provinces such as Henan and Anhui, as emerging forces, have production capacities of around 55 million tons and 42 million tons respectively, and are gradually giving rise to a multi-polar development pattern. III. Capacity Structure and Current Production Status At present, the coking industry is in a critical phase of technological upgrading and capacity consolidation: there is a clear trend toward larger coking ovens – small ovens with a diameter of 4.3 meters or less are being phased out at an accelerated pace (they now account for less than 6.5% of the total number of operating ovens), while new projects generally use large rammed or top-loaded coking ovens with a diameter of 6.25 meters or more. Currently, large coke ovens of 6 meters and above have become the backbone of the industry, accounting for nearly 60% of the total production capacity. Dry quenching of coke has become the absolute standard: As environmental regulations become stricter, all new projects are required to be equipped with dry quenching facilities, and the capacity for wet quenching of coke (accounting for about 20%) is gradually being replaced. Capacity utilization remains at a tight balance: From 2025 to 2026, the national coke capacity utilization rate will remain around 73% – 75% throughout that period. Among them, the average utilization rate of independent coking plants is 70%-75%, while coking plants built by steel mills operate at rates of over 85% due to internal demand. IV. New Trends in Industry Development Faced with a market landscape characterized by \"high production capacity, high costs, fierce competition, and weak demand,\" coking plants are undergoing profound transformations: Green and low-carbon practices as well as ultra-low emissions: Environmental regulations have become strict requirements; efforts are being accelerated to upgrade coking production capacity of 100 million tons to meet ultra-low emission standards, with companies that fail to do so facing restrictions on production or even shutdowns. Extension of the industrial chain and value enhancement: The traditional model based on single coke products can no longer sustain itself; companies are actively expanding into high-value sectors such as fine chemicals, new materials, and hydrogen energy. For example, many places are building integrated industrial parks for \"coal-coke-chemicals-hydrogen,\" to facilitate the implementation of projects such as producing hydrogen from coke oven gas. Mergers and restructurings are accelerating: Leading enterprises, leveraging their advantages in capital and technology, expand their scale through horizontal integration, resulting in a steady increase in industry concentration; the living space for small and independent coke producers is continuously shrinking.