SunCoke Energy, Inc. Domestic Coke Production Estimated to Be 1,083 Thousand Tons in Fourth Quarter 2014

• Full year 2014 domestic coke production projected to be 4,175 thousand tons versus 4,269 thousand tons in 2013

LISLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SXC) today reported preliminary fourth quarter 2014 domestic coke production of 1,083 thousand tons, up approximately 27 thousand tons versus fourth quarter 2013, primarily due to production improvements and better coal-to-coke yields at our Indiana Harbor facility. While Indiana Harbor saw year-over-year improvement in the quarter, it fell short of our targeted range.

Full year 2014 estimated coke production of 4,175 thousand tons is down approximately 94 thousand tons compared with full year 2013 reflecting the combined impact of severe winter weather in first quarter 2014, refurbishment and production challenges at our Indiana Harbor facility and lower coal-to-coke yields at our Haverhill facility.

Domestic capacity utilization for fourth quarter and full year 2014 is estimated to be 101 percent and 98 percent, respectively, as compared to 99 percent and 101 percent for the same prior year periods.

See exhibit at end of release for domestic coke production schedule for the last four quarters.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SunCoke Energy, Inc. tentatively plans to issue fourth quarter 2014 earnings and 2015 guidance before market opens and host an investor conference call at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time (10:30 a.m. Central Time) on Thursday, January 29, 2014. This conference call will be webcast live and archived for replay in the Investor Relations section of www.suncoke.com. Investors may participate in this call by dialing 1-800-351-9852 in the U.S. or 1-847-413-3123 if outside the U.S., confirmation code 38744445.

ABOUT SUNCOKE ENERGY, INC.

SunCoke Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) is the largest independent producer of coke in the Americas, with 50 years of experience supplying coke to the integrated steel industry. Our advanced, heat recovery cokemaking process produces high-quality coke for use in steelmaking, captures waste heat for derivative energy resale and meets or exceeds environmental standards. Our U.S. cokemaking facilities are located in Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. Outside the U.S., we have cokemaking operations in Vitoria, Brazil and Odisha, India. Our coal mining operations, which have more than 110 million tons of proven and probable reserves, are located in Virginia and West Virginia. In addition, through our 56 percent ownership of SXCP, we have an interest in SXCP's coal logistics business, which has the collective capacity to blend and transload more than 30 million tons of coal annually. To learn more about SunCoke Energy, Inc., visit our website at www.suncoke.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements included in this press release constitute “forward looking statements” (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “may,” “will,” “should” or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond the control of the Company) that could cause actual results to differ materially.

Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to domestic and international economic, political, business, operational, competitive, regulatory and/or market factors affecting the Company, as well as uncertainties related to: pending or future litigation, legislation or regulatory actions; liability for remedial actions or assessments under existing or future environmental regulations; gains and losses related to acquisition, disposition or impairment of assets; recapitalizations; access to, and costs of, capital; the effects of changes in accounting rules applicable to the Company; and changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations applicable to the Company’s businesses.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, but are based upon the current knowledge, beliefs and expectations of Company management, and upon assumptions by the Company concerning future conditions, any or all of which ultimately may prove to be inaccurate. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter its forward-looking statements (or associated cautionary language), whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release except as required by applicable law.

In accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company has included in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission cautionary language identifying important factors (but not necessarily all the important factors) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the Company. For information concerning these factors, see the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings such as its annual and quarterly reports and current reports on Form 8-K, copies of which are available free of charge on the Company’s website at www.suncoke.com. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this release also could have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

SunCoke Energy, Inc.
Investors:
Lisa Ciota: 630-824-1907
or
Media:
Steve Carlson: 630-824-1783

Source: SunCoke Energy, Inc.