China's coke industry was hit hard by the financial crisis. Overcapacity has led to a decline in coke output. Exports reached a near standstill. Producers are suffering from a heavy loss as a whole, said Huang Jingan, president of China Coking Industry Association. In the first seven months of 2009, China produced 189 million tons of coke, down 6.3 percent; and exported 283,600 tons, down 96.6 percent. He added, besides the weak international demand, high tariff is also a possible barrier to coke exports. The export duty on coke increased from 15 percent in 2007 to 40 percent in 2008.