ICCSINO: This month, the needle coke market has witnessed good demand. Orders for downstream anode materials have been on the rise, with high enthusiasm for procurement. Graphite electrode companies have shown relatively stable overall demand. The supply of needle coke this month has remained largely unchanged, with some refineries starting and shutting down operations during the period. Raw material prices first rose and then stabilized, leading to an upward shift in the transaction center of needle coke prices. Specifically, coal-based needle coke prices range from 7,500 to 8,500 yuan/ton, while oil-based needle coke prices are mainly between 7,400 and 8,700 yuan/ton. The prices of mainstream raw coke from both coal and oil sources are between 5,100 and 6,300 yuan/ton.
In terms of the import and export market, Japanese coal-based needle coke is priced at 830 USD/ton, while South Korean coal-based needle coke has risen to 840 USD/ton. For oil-based needle coke, Japanese prices range from 1,100 to 1,300 USD/ton, British calcined coke prices are between 925 and 1,125 USD/ton, and anode-grade coke prices remain stable at 650-800 USD/ton.
Regarding raw materials, coal tar pitch prices stabilized first and then rose this month, supported by the upward trend in raw coal tar prices. Downstream demand was cautious initially but later released restocking demand, further boosting coal tar pitch prices. The transaction prices of low-sulfur oil slurry have also generally fluctuated at high levels. The raw material market this month has been influenced by a mix of bullish and bearish factors, with overall stable downstream demand. It is expected that the demand for needle coke will continue to be favorable in December, and the price of low-sulfur oil slurry is anticipated to remain stable.
Downstream, the graphite electrode market has operated steadily this month, with mainstream large manufacturers purchasing based on rigid demand, resulting in relatively stable overall demand. It is expected that the graphite electrode market demand will continue to be driven by rigid demand in December. In the anode material sector, the operating rate has continued to improve this month, with strong demand for raw material replenishment. Production scheduling for anode materials in December remains stable, but due to year-end settlements, the demand for raw materials will slightly tighten. However, overall demand remains robust, and it is expected that the demand for raw materials from anode materials will generally be favorable in December.
In summary, the needle coke market has seen good trading activity this month, with generally strong downstream demand. The supply and demand of needle coke have been temporarily tight, leading to a slight increase in prices. It is expected that the needle coke market will maintain a balanced supply-demand state in December, with prices remaining stable, although some manufacturers may experience slight fluctuations.
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