Coke

Coke is the hard and porous residue left after certain types of bituminous coals are heated to high temperatures (up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit) for about 17 hours. It is blackish-gray and has a metallic luster. The residue is mostly carbon. Coke is used as a reducing agent in the smelting of pig iron and the production of steel. Petroleum coke is made from the heavy tar-like residue of the petroleum refining process. It is used primarily to generate electricity.

Supply – Coke production in the US rose to 285.686 million barrels in 2002 from 298.261 million in 2001. That was well below the production record of 369.305 million barrels posted in 1957. US stocks at coke plants (Dec 31) fell to 606,000 tons in 2002 from 981,000 tons in 2001.

Trade – US exports fell sharply to 594,000 tons from 1.069 million tons in 2001. Most of those exports were to Canada. US imports rose to 3.096 million tons in 2002 from 2.340 million tons in 2001. About one-half of the imports were from Japan.