What is the difference between loading petcoke at New Orleans and at Houston?

Both load fuel-grade petcoke for export. In July 2026 New Orleans was the largest US petcoke load port at 680,220 tonnes against 490,471 tonnes at Houston, and average declared values were USD 91.21/MT at New Orleans and USD 86.29/MT at Houston. Draft, loading method (berth or midstream transfer) and loading rate are terminal-specific and are confirmed with the terminal for each stem.

What sulphur level is standard for USGC fuel-grade green petcoke?

Standard refinery sponge coke runs 4.5% to 6.5% sulphur, suited to cement clinker kilns where raw lime meal naturally absorbs sulphur dioxide into the clinker matrix. Low-sulphur green coke (<3.0% S) commands a freight and quality premium.

What parcel sizes does CBIL broker ex-US Gulf?

We work single-deck ocean bulkers: Handysize (25,000–35,000 MT), Supramax (50,000–55,000 MT) and Ultramax (60,000–65,000 MT). Cargoes are structured on FOB port terms or CFR landed terms.

How is payment structured for USGC petcoke stems?

Settlement is standardly conducted via 100% Irrevocable Documentary Letter of Credit (L/C) at sight (UCP 600) issued by a top-50 prime international bank against shipping documents, ocean Bill of Lading, and SGS load-port certificates.

North America · United States

US Gulf Petroleum Coke Export Gateway

Q: What parcel sizes does CBIL broker ex-US Gulf?

We work single-deck ocean bulkers: Handysize (25,000–35,000 MT), Supramax (50,000–55,000 MT) and Ultramax (60,000–65,000 MT). Cargoes are structured on FOB port terms or CFR landed terms.

Q: How is payment structured for USGC petcoke stems?

Settlement is standardly conducted via 100% Irrevocable Documentary Letter of Credit (L/C) at sight (UCP 600) issued by a top-50 prime international bank against shipping documents, ocean Bill of Lading, and SGS load-port certificates.

3.14 million tonnes exported by vessel in July 2026 across Mississippi River, Texas and California terminals

The US Gulf Coast houses a dense concentration of delayed coking units (DCU), processing heavy Western Canadian and Latin crudes into high-calorific fuel-grade petcoke (≥8,200 kcal/kg NCV). US trade data show 3,140,681 metric tonnes exported from the United States by vessel in July 2026 at an average declared value of USD 104.16 per tonne, with India taking 609,687 tonnes, China 597,850 tonnes, Turkey 351,559 tonnes and Brazil 338,291 tonnes. Declared values differ by load port, with average declared values in July 2026 of USD 91.21/MT at New Orleans, USD 86.29/MT at Houston and USD 84.18/MT at Port Arthur.

CBIL brokers uncalcined green petcoke for cement kilns, precalciners, industrial power boilers and lime producers. CBIL is a commodity brokerage: each lot is brokered between a named seller and a named buyer against independent SGS or Intertek inspection at load port covering net calorific value, total moisture (≤8%), Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI 35–48), volatile combustible matter (8–12%), ash (≤0.5%) and trace vanadium. Handysize, Supramax and Ultramax parcels are structured on FOB US Gulf Coast and CFR destination terms, with parcel size matched to the discharge berth draft and emissions permit constraints.

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The market in figures

Declared US vessel exports, July 2026: 3,140,681 t (USD 327.1 million), about 2.6 million t from US Gulf ports
Top loading ports: New Orleans 680k t · Houston 490k t · Port Arthur 406k t · Long Beach 353k t · Lake Charles 204k t
Top export destinations: India 610k t · China 598k t · Turkey 352k t · Brazil 338k t
Average declared value by port, July 2026: New Orleans USD 91.21/t · Houston USD 86.29/t · Port Arthur USD 84.18/t
Physical grade standards: NCV ≥8,200 kcal/kg · HGI 35–48 · Ash ≤0.5% · Moisture ≤8% · S 4.5–6.5%

Landed values are the importing country's declared CIF, not CBIL prices.

Questions buyers ask

What is the difference between loading petcoke at New Orleans and at Houston?: Both load fuel-grade petcoke for export. In July 2026 New Orleans was the largest US petcoke load port at 680,220 tonnes against 490,471 tonnes at Houston, and average declared values were USD 91.21/MT at New Orleans and USD 86.29/MT at Houston. Draft, loading method (berth or midstream transfer) and loading rate are terminal-specific and are confirmed with the terminal for each stem.
What sulphur level is standard for USGC fuel-grade green petcoke?: Standard refinery sponge coke runs 4.5% to 6.5% sulphur, suited to cement clinker kilns where raw lime meal naturally absorbs sulphur dioxide into the clinker matrix. Low-sulphur green coke (<3.0% S) commands a freight and quality premium.
What parcel sizes does CBIL broker ex-US Gulf?: We work single-deck ocean bulkers: Handysize (25,000–35,000 MT), Supramax (50,000–55,000 MT) and Ultramax (60,000–65,000 MT). Cargoes are structured on FOB port terms or CFR landed terms.
How is payment structured for USGC petcoke stems?: Settlement is standardly conducted via 100% Irrevocable Documentary Letter of Credit (L/C) at sight (UCP 600) issued by a top-50 prime international bank against shipping documents, ocean Bill of Lading, and SGS load-port certificates.