Coke options officially began trading on the Dalian Commodity Exchange on Wednesday, making complete a full derivatives toolkit for the three core steelmaking raw materials -- iron ore, coking coal and coke.
Trading began at 09:00 Wednesday with 328 contracts based on 10 coke futures contracts, including J2611, J2612 and J2701. These cover different delivery months, and trading was active from the start.
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coke, with the annual output exceeding 500 million tons and accounting for more than 67 percent of global production for many years.
Coke futures have been listed since 2011, helping industry participants lock in basic price risks. The introduction of options now offers enterprises a more flexible risk-management tool.
"Options are more like a form of insurance. By paying a relatively small premium, companies can gain the right to choose. If the market moves against them, they can receive compensation. If prices move in their favor, they can simply let the option expire. The maximum loss is limited to the paid premium," said He Bei, trading advisory consultant at the Shanghai East Asia Futures.
Coke sits at the heart of the coal-coke-steel industrial chain, serving as a key raw material for blast-furnace steelmaking. The launch of coke options fills an important gap in risk-management tools on this chain.
"Options tools work together with futures tools to give companies more ways to manage risks. This completes a full black series of derivatives toolkit covering the entire coking coal, coke and iron ore chain," said Hao Weibin, manager at Futures Derivatives Department, the Dalian Commodity Exchange.
China's Dalian commodity exchange officially launches coke options
China Media Group (CMG) is filming its 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province, with the lakeside stage set to highlight traditional and modern performances.
The gala is being filmed at Huainan's scenic People's Park. The spectacular waterside main stage embodies the elegance of Eastern aesthetics, with rippling waters and a poetic atmosphere that together create a dreamlike, shimmering visual experience.
Divided into three sections, the show weaves the rich cultural heritage of the Chinese nation with gentle, romantic performances that highlight traditional customs. The program conveys Mid-Autumn's warm wishes for reunion, peace, and prosperity.
"The gala will feature traditional Chinese opera, modern pop, as well as reinterpretations of classic tunes. It is about sharing the warmth of reunion and heartfelt longing with everyone on this special night," said Dong Jinming, executive director of the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.
Huainan, a city with over a thousand years of history, serves as both a central area for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and a national-level new comprehensive energy base. Its deep ties to the Huaihe River's cultural legacy made it a fitting site for the celebration.
"We use three core concepts - Huai (the Huaihe River), water and moon - as the foundation for our design. An 80-meter diameter circular ring has been constructed on the water, forming a large, controllable performance area inside the ring. It appears as a full moon floating on the lake, symbolizing reunion on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival. All the performances will take place on the stage in the style of a large piece of traditional Xuan paper on the flowing water. There is also a particularly large 18-meter diameter 'moon' that can move horizontally and serves as part of the background," said Wang Chen, chief stage designer of the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.
The 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala will begin to air live worldwide at the prime viewing time of 20:00 on September 25 across multiple CCTV television channels, new media platforms, and international social networks, bringing the spirit of Mid-Autumn to global audiences.
To the Chinese, the Mid-Autumn Festival means family reunion and harmony. It is celebrated when the moon is full, and Chinese people believe a full moon is a symbol of reunion, harmony, and happiness. The festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
CMG's 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival Gala to meet global audiences on Sept 25
