Most U.S. petroleum coke is exported

Annual production of U.S. petroleum coke, or petcoke, has remained relatively unchanged over the past 10 years (2014–23), averaging 46 million tons. Most U.S. petroleum coke is exported. The United States exported approximately 41 million tons in 2023, slightly more than the 10-year average for total petcoke exports of 40 million tons.

Petcoke is a steady energy source used for power generation and industrial applications. It can also be heated in a rotary kiln to lower the concentration of sulfur and metal, resulting in high-grade anode petcoke. This feedstock, valued for its high electrical conductivity, is used by the smelting industry to produce aluminum and steel.

Unlike most other fuels, production of petcoke is not solely influenced by customer demand. Rather, the yield is correlated with refinery operations, especially the heaviness of the crude oil being refined. The heavier the crude oil, the more petcoke can be derived from the refining process. Refiners will operate a coking unit to squeeze out more high-value products such as gasoline and diesel. Because of its high-carbon content, as well as its relatively inexpensive cost of production and low risk of combustion during transport, fuel-grade petcoke is an efficient and cost-effective thermal input. At the same time, its high carbon and sulfur content can make it subject to environmental regulations in some markets.

Read more about petcoke exports on Today in Energy.