CECAEN Rev 3
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Division 19

Manufacture of coke oven products

The coking activity transforms coal into coke, an essential fuel for the steel industry, and into by-products such as coke oven gas and tar. This is a heavy industry, with high investments, serving mainly steel manufacturing and energy production.

Included Activities & Applicability

  • ✅ Production of coke and semi-coke
  • ✅ Production of coke oven gas
  • ✅ Production of crude coal tar
  • ✅ Refining of coal tar
  • ✅ Production of heavy petroleum products from coking

Excluded Activities & Restrictions

  • ❌ Production of petroleum coke (included in petroleum refining)
  • ❌ Production of activated carbon
  • ❌ Production of solid fuels from waste
  • ❌ Manufacture of coke electrodes for electrical use
  • ❌ Production of basic organic chemicals (outside coking)

Subordinate Structure

191 Manufacture of coke oven products
→
1910 Manufacture of coke oven products
→
192 Manufacture of products obtained from the processing of crude oil
→
1920 Manufacture of products obtained from the processing of crude oil
→

Detailed Analysis & Commercial Insights

Industry of coking, classified under CAEN 19, represents an essential link in the value chain of metallurgy and energy production

In Romania, although coking capacities have been significantly reduced after 1990, a few units integrated in steel mills, such as the one in Galati, remain active. The process involves the distillation of coal in the absence of air, generating metallurgical coke, combustible gas, and tar, a raw material for the chemical industry.

Macroeconomic importance and sector challenges

Macro-economically, this division contributes to the trade balance by substituting coke imports and by providing a critical input for steelmaking. In recent years, the sector has faced challenges related to high energy costs and increasingly strict environmental requirements. The European Industrial Emissions Directive imposes major investments in desulfurization and gas capture systems, which increases operating costs.

Perspectives for entrepreneurs in the coking sector

For entrepreneurs in this field, the main challenges are dependence on imports of coking coal, volatility of energy prices, and competition from substitutes such as petroleum coke or green hydrogen. At the same time, modern technologies allow for process efficiency and the valorization of by-products to generate additional revenue. The future of coking in Romania will be dictated by the energy transition and the ability to adapt to a low-carbon economy without losing competitive advantages in supplying raw materials for steel.