Driven by the rapid development of the new energy industry, China's anode material output will continue to maintain a rapid growth trend in 2023. In the first half of 2023, the domestic output of new energy vehicles increased by 42% year-onyear to 3.786 million units, and the output of lithium battery anode materials increased by 24% year-on-year to 749,400 tons. The demand for needle coke was further enlarged. At the same time, with the continuous advancement of technology, the proportion of high-end anode material products is also steadily increasing, and the demand for high-quality needle coke is correspondingly increasing.

In terms of steel carbon, in 2023, China's economy is stable and improving. In August, many ministries and commissions issued policy documents one after another, releasing policies to increase macro-policy regulation, comprehensively implement policies to expand domestic demand, and help enterprises reduce their burdens. Market confidence has been further boosted by policy signals such as promoting the stable and healthy development of the real estate market. In the first half of 2023, China's crude steel output increased by 1.3% year-on-year to 535.64 million tons. The new production capacity of electric furnace steelmaking has accelerated significantly compared with last year, and the demand for large-scale ultra-high-power graphite electrodes is further optimistic.

In 2024, the global production of new energy vehicles is expected to reach 17.5-18 million units, the demand for anode materials will also maintain a growth rate of about 20%, and the fundamentals of needle coke will continue to improve. In addition, after October 1, 2023, the European Carbon Boundary Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) agreement will come into effect, and China's steel industry may also be included in the national carbon market in 2024. As the dual-carbon target becomes the focus again, it will most likely drive the global electric furnace steelmaking into the second wave of rapid development cycle, which in turn will stimulate the growth of global consumption of graphite electrodes and their raw materials.

As the needle coke industry ushers in a new round of acceleration, ICCSINO will hold the "14th International Needle Coke and Application Market Summit Forum" in Sanya, Hainan for two days from November 28-30, 2023. The meeting will invite relevant enterprises, colleges and their practitioners from upstream and downstream industrial chains such as needle coke, petroleum coke, graphite electrodes, coal tar pitch, electric furnace steel, and anode materials. Build a professional industry sharing and cooperation platform through theme reports, exhibitions, interactive discussions, seminars, and exchange activities. Strengthen industrial exchanges, promote enterprise cooperation, further promote the rapid development of needle coke and upstream and downstream industrial chains, and contribute to the achievement of the "double carbon" goal and the rapid economic progress. ICCSINO sincerely invites your participation!