Needle coke market runs steady, factory inventories maintain low in February: Monthly report

ICC News: Needle coke market overall was stable in February; factory inventories stood at low levels and prices fluctuated towards the end of the month.

In early February, overall market was stable and purchase activities of downstream sectors slowed down with the Spring Festive drawing near.

Petroleum-based needle coke prices are 21,000-24,000 yuan/tonne, coal-based needle coke are 21,000-27,000 yuan/tonne this month. Prices of imported coal-based needle coke are largely $ 3,000-3,500 per tonne, and imported petroleum-based needle coke are $ 2,500-2,800 per tonne.

Baosteel Chemical posts stable production each month; the volume of shipment in January is 3,500 tonnes and that in February is 3,000 tonnes, among which, there are 1,500k green coke and 1,600t calcined coke. Price of calcined coke maintains the same as before at 23,000 yuan/tonne.

Green coke is 16,000 yuan/tonne. It is planning to conduct checks in April and is expected to see tight supply in March.

Fangda C-Chem (Jiangsu) ran steady in early February. Production was suspended for maintenance during the holiday and production will be resumed in early March. Right now, product market price is 27,000 yuan/tonne.

Shandong Yida's petroleum-based needle coke facilities were under maintenance in January and resumed operation on Feb.2. The production of green coke was 5,000 tonnes in Feb. and sales were stable. According to sources, 10,000 tons of calcining was made by outside plants.

Green coke is largely 13,000 yuan/tonne and calcined coke 23,000 yuan/tonne in February.

Production at Shandong Jingyang was stable in February, with a monthly output of 4,200 tons comprising of calcined coke entirely. Right now, price of green coke is largely 13,000 yuan/tonne, calcined coke 23,000 yuan/tonne.

Henan Baoshun Chemical Technology's 50kt coal-based needle coke production project has entered land construction stage and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2019.

Henan Haixing Chemical Co., Ltd's 50kt coal-based needle coke project is in smooth progress and is expected to reach the requirements for pilot production in late 2018 and roll out products in the Q1 of 2019.

On the overseas market, Philip 66's HNP product prices are largely $2,500 per tonne, HSP product $2,800 and HBA product $1,800. Mitsubishi Chemical's needle coke prices are largely $3,500-3,800 per tonne. PMC's product prices are largely $3,200 per tonne.