ICCSINO: This month, needle coke shipments were robust overall, with anode material enterprises actively procuring and graphite electrode enterprises meeting rigid demand. The needle coke industry's overall inventory declined. Mid-month rumors of a possible fuel oil tax increase led most Shandong needle coke enterprises to raise their quotes at the end of the month. Specifically, coal-based needle coke prices ranged from 7,500 to 8,500 yuan/ton, oil-based needle coke mainstream raw coke prices were between 5,800 and 8,400 yuan/ton, and mainstream raw coke prices for coal and oil series were 4,800 to 5,300 yuan/ton. In the import and export market, Japanese coal-based needle coke prices were 850 USD/ton, Korean coal-based needle coke prices were 800 USD/ton; for oil-based needle coke, Japanese prices were 1,100 to 1,300 USD/ton, British calcined coke prices were 950 to 1,200 USD/ton, and anode coke prices were 650 to 800 USD/ton.
In terms of raw materials, coal tar pitch prices rose this month, with modified pitch prices at the end of the month ranging from 3,800 to 3,850 yuan/ton and medium-temperature pitch prices between 3,650 and 4,000 yuan/ton. The increase in coal tar pitch prices was mainly due to the rise in raw material coal tar prices. However, downstream demand for coal tar pitch was only rigid, with moderate demand support. It is expected that resistance to further price increases will be significant. Low-sulfur oil slurry prices declined this month, with some refinery inventories accumulating. It is expected that downstream restocking will begin after the holiday, and international crude oil prices declined, leading to mainly consolidation in low-sulfur oil slurry prices.
On the downstream front, small-sized graphite electrode prices increased this month, with UHP600 prices remaining stable at 18,000 to 18,500 yuan/ton. The graphite electrode industry is currently in an off-season, with overall terminal demand being moderate and primarily rigid. The weak market trend is unlikely to improve after the holiday. In terms of anode materials, overall production was good this month, with active procurement of raw materials. Leading anode factories timely stocked up on raw materials before the holiday, driving a positive trading atmosphere in the raw material market. After the holiday, anode material production will remain unchanged, and it is expected that the procurement pace of raw materials will remain steady.
Overall, anode material enterprises actively procured needle coke this month, and needle coke costs are expected to rise. It is anticipated that needle coke prices may increase after the holiday.
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