Monthly Review: The anode demand is good, and needle coke shipment was smooth.

ICCSINO: The needle coke market in this month performed well with needle coke manufacturers actively shipping goods. The downstream anode material manufacturers remained active in procurement, and the contract execution efficiency was acceptable. Graphite electrode manufacturers had rigid demand for replenishment, and the demand was generally good. In terms of supply, the overall supply of needle coke manufacturers in June rose steadily. In the latter part of the month, the calcined equipment of mainstream needle coke manufacturers in Liaoning started operation, while the calcined equipment of needle coke enterprises in Jiangsu stopped. Due to the poor graphite electrode market in July, some needle coke manufacturers planned to overhaul the calcined equipment, and it was expected that the supply of calcined needle coke in the market would decline in July. In terms of prices, the price of needle coke remained stable in this month. Some needle coke manufacturers adjusted their prices due to changes in product specifications. Specifically, the price of coal-based needle coke ranged from 7,500 to 8,500 yuan per ton, and the mainstream price of oil-based needle coke ranged from 5,800 to 8,200 yuan per ton. The price of coal and oil-based green coke ranged from 5,200 to 5,600 yuan per ton. In terms of the import and export market, the price of coal-based needle coke in Japan was 950 USD per ton, and the price of coal-based needle coke in South Korea was 850 USD per ton. For oil-based needle coke, the price in Japan ranged from 1,100 to 1,300 USD per ton. It is expected that the price of calcined coke in the third quarter of the UK will increase by 9%. At the end of the month, the price of needle coke ranged from 1,100 to 1,300 USD per ton, and the price of anode coke ranged from 650 to 800 USD per ton.

In terms of raw materials, the price of coal tar pitch fell first and then rose this month. By the end of the month, the price of reformed tar pitch fell by 16.92% to 4,150-4,200 yuan per ton, and the price of medium-temperature tar pitch fell by 16.02% to 4,300-4,350 yuan per ton. This month, the price of raw coal tar oil continued to decline, dragging down the price of coal tar pitch. Combined with the overall poor demand for downstream coal tar pitch, the price of raw coal tar pitch fell all the way down until the end of the month. At the end of the month, the price of raw coal tar oil began to rebound, and the cost of coal tar pitch was supported by good factors. The downstream mainstream demand for prebaked anode enterprises improved, while the operation of graphite electrode and coal-based needle coke enterprises was low, and the demand was generally good. The overall demand for coal tar pitch improved slightly, and it was expected that the price of coal tar pitch would rise next month. In terms of low-sulfur slurry oil, the price of low-sulfur slurry oil continued to rise this month, and the transaction price of mainstream low-sulfur slurry oil continued to rise. At the end of the month, the price of low-sulfur slurry oil ranged from 4,100 to 4,710 yuan per ton. The supply of low-sulfur slurry oil was relatively stable this month, and the crude oil price fluctuated. The main price support came from the demand side. The increase in the operating rate of needle coke enterprises boosted the confidence of the slurry oil market. It was expected that the low-sulfur slurry oil market would continue to maintain a steady and rising state next month.

In terms of downstream, the graphite electrode market continued to operate weakly and steadily this month. The terminal electric furnace steel market entered the traditional slack season, and the operating rate declined. The graphite electrode maintained long-term rigid demand for raw materials, and it was difficult to improve in the short term. In terms of the anode material market, the contract execution efficiency of the anode material market in the early stage of this month was acceptable. In July, the demand of terminal battery factories slightly declined, and the demand for raw materials of anode materials also declined slightly in July. However, the overall demand was still relatively objective. It was expected that the demand for needle coke of anode materials would decline slightly in the short term.

Overall, the needle coke market performed well in June, mainly shipping to anode material manufacturers. Graphite electrodes maintained rigid demand. It was expected that the price of needle coke raw materials