Monthly review: Imported coke prices are expected to increase by 50% in January

This month, the needle coke market was in correction, and the downstream stocks were stable. As of the end of the month, the domestic coal-based needle coke price was 6,000-6,500 yuan/ton, the petroleum-based needle coke price was 6,000-7,000 yuan/ton, and raw coke was 5,000-5,500 yuan/ton. In terms of imports, the price of coal-based needle coke was 800-1,100 US dollars, the price of petroleum-based needle coke was 900-1,500 US dollars/ton, and the price of anode coke was 600-750 US dollars/ton. 2020 is drawing to a close. After a year of ups and downs, as the supply of domestic needle coke resources increases and the supply-demand structure changes, ICCSINO expects the market to become more rational in the first half of 2021. As of December 31, China's total needle coke production capacity was 1.49 million tons, of which 690,000 tons of petroleum-based needle coke (increased by 102% year-on-year), and 800,000 tons of coal-based needle coke (increased by 23% year-on-year). The total output of coke was 488,000 tons, down 36% year-on-year, of which 312,000 tons were petroleum-based, and 176,000 tons were coal-based. In the short term, the domestic supply of needle coke is still tight. ICCSINO has exact information obtained from the imported coke, the price of electrode coke is expected to increase by 45-50% early next year, and the price of anode coke is expected to increase by 63-66%.

End-market:

There is little change in the lithium battery market this month. The production arrangements for leading battery companies are full and show no signs of reduction. The industry will usher in a rare boom in the first quarter. Also, because order books of leading manufacturers are already full, there have been signs of increasing quotations for new inquiry bulk orders recently. Next year, driven by cost and demand, lithium battery prices may perform well.

In December, many firms were busy with meeting their annual production target, and iron ores prices increased sharply. China's construction steel prices rose sharply in December, with the highest increase reaching about 400 yuan/ton. The profit of electric furnace steel plants also rose to 300-400 yuan/ton and even surpassed blast furnace in late December. The output of electric furnace steel continues to be high. New electric furnace projects in various places are also steadily advancing, and several large electric furnaces in Guangxi Province have been put into operation smoothly.