BEIJING: Chinese coking coal and coke futures fell to four-month lows on Tuesday as investors continued to pile up bearish bets and exit long positions ahead of the month-end, worried about the impact that curbs on steel production would have on winter demand.

Data showing that China’s steel industry grew at its slowest in six months also hammered sentiment for steelmaking raw materials.

Dalian’s most-traded coking coal futures contract for January delivery tumbled 4 percent to 1,063.5 yuan a tonne, after earlier hitting 1,058.5 yuan, down nearly 4.5 percent and their weakest since end-June. The coking coal futures dropped 3.8 percent over the month.

“Coke prices fell because of the growing intensity of production curbs on steel mills,” sid Zhao Xiaobo, an analyst with Sinosteel Futures in Beijing.

Rigorous restrictions on steel output are expected in November as manufacturers in 28 cities in northern China have been asked to stagger production to reduce pollutant emissions.

Demand for coke is fading, causing spot prices to fall sharply and dragging futures down as well, Zhao said.

Among other steelmaking raw materials, the most-traded coke contracts on the Dalian Commodity Exchange fell 2.9 percent to 1,670.5 yuan ($252.14) a tonne by close. In early trade, the contract hit 1,656.5 yuan a tonne, down more than 3.7 percent and its lowest level since June 28.

The contract slumped 11.8 percent in October, its second straight monthly fall after crashing 18.7 percent in September.

Iron ore futures steadied at 428 yuan a tonne by close, after four straight days of losses. It ended October down by 5.8 percent.

Data from consultancy Steelhome showed that stockpiles of iron ore at Chinese ports had climbed 2.7 percent since Oct. 20 to 135.8 million tonnes on Oct. 30.—Reuters