ICCSINO: In November, the overall needle coke market experienced good shipments, with downstream enterprises actively picking up goods. Producers were operating according to orders, and new needle coke capacity came into operation this month, with additional needle coke enterprises resuming production next month. At the end of the month, some needle coke enterprises offered discounts for large orders, resulting in a slight decline in the average transaction price. Specifically, coal-based needle coke prices ranged from 7,500 to 8,500 yuan/ton, oil-based needle coke mainstream prices were between 5,800 and 8,400 yuan/ton, and mainstream prices for coal- and oil-based green coke were between 4,800 and 5,500 yuan/ton.
In the import and export market, Japanese coal-based needle coke prices were at 850 USD/ton, and Korean coal-based needle coke prices were at 800 USD/ton. For oil-based needle coke, Japanese prices ranged from 1,100 to 1,300 USD/ton, British calcined coke prices were between 950 and 1,200 USD/ton, and anode coke prices were between 650 and 800 USD/ton.
Regarding raw materials, coal tar pitch prices fell initially and then stabilized this month. Supported by raw material coal tar prices, coal tar pitch prices fluctuated accordingly. Downstream demand remained rigid, and the market was well-supplied with coal tar pitch. With fewer new orders from downstream enterprises, price increases were difficult to achieve, and the coal tar pitch market is expected to remain stagnant. In terms of low-sulfur oil slurry, prices fell initially and then rose, with mainstream transactions at the end of the month priced between 3,700 and 3,750 yuan/ton. Early in the month, oil slurry prices declined, and downstream enterprises were cautious in their purchases.
However, with significant fluctuations in crude oil prices at the end of the month, downstream enterprises remained cautious in their procurement of oil slurry, maintaining rigid demand. The low-sulfur oil slurry market is expected to remain stable in the short term, and the cost pressure on oil-based needle coke enterprises will increase again next month.
However, with significant fluctuations in crude oil prices at the end of the month, downstream enterprises remained cautious in their procurement of oil slurry, maintaining rigid demand. The low-sulfur oil slurry market is expected to remain stable in the short term, and the cost pressure on oil-based needle coke enterprises will increase again next month.
On the downstream side, graphite electrode prices rose overall this month, with mainstream UHP600 prices at the end of the month ranging from 17,750 to 18,250 yuan/ton. Leading graphite electrode enterprises had stable procurement, providing good price support for some needle coke producers. The graphite electrode market is expected to remain relatively stable next month, with rigid demand for raw materials continuing. In the anode material market, operating rates remained high this month. Anode material enterprises placed numerous raw material purchase orders in the first half of the month and actively picked up goods in the second half. In December, anode material production is expected to decline slightly compared to the previous month, mainly due to the traditional off-season for downstream demand. However, compared to the same period last year, there is still some growth, and some enterprises will continue to maintain good procurement of raw materials.
Overall, the needle coke market experienced minimal fluctuations this month, with an increase in supply and decent overall downstream demand. Needle coke enterprises are expected to maintain their pricing power in the future.
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