ICCSINO: This month, the needle coke market has seen good shipments. Manufacturers of needle coke have been actively shipping out their products, and most of them are operating in a "negative inventory" state. Some manufacturers have already completed their orders for the first half of May. Supported by the downstream demand and rising costs, the prices of needle coke have gradually increased this month. However, the market for calcined needle coke has been relatively flat this month, as downstream graphite electrode enterprises have shown a general willingness to receive goods, leading to a blockage in price hikes for calcined needle coke and a stable overall operation throughout the month. In terms of production, some coal-based needle coke enterprises have started production this month, while Jinzhou Petrochemical is still undergoing maintenance, and some needle coke manufacturers in Shandong have postponed their maintenance schedule. Specifically, the prices of coal-based needle coke range from 7500 to 8500 yuan per ton, while the mainstream prices of oil-based needle coke are between 5800 and 8200 yuan per ton. The prices of coal and oil-based needle coke range from 5000 to 5500 yuan per ton. In the import and export market, the price of coal-based needle coke from Japan is 600 US dollars per ton, while the price of coal-based needle coke from South Korea is 850 US dollars per ton. For oil-based needle coke, the price in Japan is between 1100 and 1300 US dollars per ton, while the price of calcined needle coke in the UK is also between 1100 and 1300 US dollars per ton. The price of coke for anodes is between 650 and 800 US dollars per ton.
Regarding raw materials, the market price of coal pitch fluctuated this month, with an initial increase followed by a decline. By the end of the month, the price of modified pitch had decreased by 3.54% to 5400-5500 yuan per ton, while the price of medium-temperature pitch had decreased by 0.88% to 5550-5650 yuan per ton. The fluctuations in coal pitch prices were mainly driven by fluctuations in the prices of raw material coal tar. The overall downstream demand is relatively weak, and mainstream prebaked anode enterprises have rigid demand for procurement, but they have a poor ability to accept high-priced raw materials. Graphite electrode enterprises and coal-based needle coke enterprises have low operating rates, resulting in poor overall demand. Currently, the supply of coal pitch is relatively abundant, and there is still a possibility of a decline in the price of raw material coal tar. Downstream enterprises are maintaining pressure on procurement prices, and the market price of coal pitch is still likely to decline in the early part of next month. In terms of low-sulfur oil slurry, the price increased initially but then stabilized this month, ending at 4200-4920 yuan per ton. Due to the satisfactory production situation of oil-based needle coke recently, coupled with the long-term small supply of low-sulfur oil slurry, it has been in a state of being snapped up this month. The price of low-sulfur oil slurry continued to rise in the first half of the month. However, as the price of oil slurry became too high during the middle of the month, the profitability of oil slurry deep processing enterprises was affected. Both supply and demand sides began to negotiate, and the price increase of low-sulfur oil slurry slowed down, showing a high-level volatile trend. The cost pressure of oil-based needle coke enterprises is difficult to alleviate.
In terms of downstream markets, the graphite electrode market operated weakly and stably this month, with prices falling initially and then stabilizing. By the end of the month, the mainstream uhp600 price was between 17500 and 18500 yuan per ton. Near the end of the month, some steel mills began stocking up in preparation for the May Day holiday, resulting in a slight increase in graphite electrode shipments. However, the overall operating rate of graphite electrode production remains low, and demand for raw materials is poor. In the short term, it is difficult for the operating rate of electric arc furnaces to increase significantly, which cannot drive a reversal in the graphite electrode market. In terms of anode materials, the market performed well this month, with good demand from terminal battery factories. The operating rate of anode material production gradually increased, and prices also rose slightly. Anode material manufacturers actively procured raw materials while facing rising raw material prices. Some anode factories locked in orders early to maximize profits. In the short term.
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