In terms of enterprise dynamics, Liaocheng Zhonghe needle coke phase II 150,000-ton needle coke project plans to sign a contract this month, and the project construction period is expected to be two years. The leader of the carbon black industry, Heimao Co., Ltd., has begun to deploy the needle coke industry and plans to build a needle coke production line of 80,000 tons per year in two phases. Shandong Binhua Group, Mengjin District Advanced Manufacturing Development Zone, and Luoyang Guohong Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd. signed a contract for an annual production of 200,000 tons of new energy lithium battery anode material precursor project. Baotailong implemented a maintenance plan. The plant will make a start-up plan in mid-to-late September, depending on the market situation.
In terms of raw materials, the price of coal tar pitch continued to rise this month, and the cost of coal-measure needle coke enterprises was too high, resulting in a decrease in the overall operating load of coal-measure needle coke enterprises. At the end of the month, the cost of oil-based needle coke enterprises rose again, which has a certain supporting effect on the current price.
In terms of downstream side, the operating rate of the graphite electrode market has gradually declined, and some electrode companies have switched to other carbon products. The power cut in Sichuan has led to a decline in the operating rate of steel mills, which has a certain impact on the consumption of graphite electrodes. The graphite electrode market as a whole showed a situation of weak supply and demand in August. At the same time, the price has gradually decreased. By the end of the month, the price of graphite electrodes of UHP600 has been reduced 2,000 yuan/ton to 23,000-24,000 yuan/ton. The traditional "Golden September Silver October" has come, but the electrode market has not shown signs of recovery. The graphite electrode market may have been in a state of weak supply and demand in the fourth quarter, and it is difficult to increase the demand for calcined coke. In terms of anode materials, the market for anode materials was relatively stable this month. The power cut in Sichuan affected the supply of anode materials, which was lower than expected. Battery manufacturers have an apparent attitude towards lowering the prices of anode materials. Although the price of needle coke has been lowered, there is an expectation of price reductions for anode materials. The acceptance of the price of needle coke is still poor, and it is also influenced by the mentality of buying up and not buying down.
On the whole, the needle coke market is running weakly and steadily this month, and the price of raw materials is high, which has led to a decrease in the start-up load of needle coke enterprises. The market supply of needle coke in September is expected to decrease accordingly. If there is no sign of improvement in the willingness of downstream enterprises to receive goods, it is expected that the market price of needle coke in September still has room for a slight adjustment.
CONTACT US
ICC APP
