【Graphite Electrode】Summer vacation ends, replenishment stock trend arrives, graphite electrode exports surge in August

According to customs data, the export volume of graphite electrodes from China in August 2024 was 294,000 tons, up 60.13% month-on-month and 22.43% year-on-year. Many foreign steel mills enter their summer vacation period from July to August each year, during which production activities are relatively reduced to facilitate equipment maintenance and inspection. When foreign steel mills end their summer vacation and prepare to resume production, their demand for graphite electrodes naturally increases significantly. The export volume of graphite electrodes from China in the first eight months of 2024 was 1,996,000 tons, down 0.72% year-on-year.

By conducting a thorough analysis of the distribution of export destinations, several notable growth highlights can be identified. The UAE, South Korea, and Malaysia rank among the top three destinations for China's graphite electrode exports. Among them, the export volume of graphite electrode to the UAE was 39,000 tons, a staggering increase of 351.86% month-on-month; the export volume to South Korea was also 39,000 tons, up 172.72% month-on-month. This may be attributed to South Korean steel mills completing their summer maintenance and replenishing their graphite electrode inventories, which may have an impact on China's exports to South Korea. Meanwhile, Malaysia, a traditional export market for Chinese graphite electrode, imported 21,000 tons in August, up 157.09% month-on-month, and continued to maintain a stable growth trend.

Besides the three mentioned countries, the Indian market also performed particularly well this month. China's export of graphite electrodes to India reached 20,000 tons, up 144.37% month-on-month. The continued growth of India's crude steel production was the key driver, as the domestic industrial production demand has been increasing steadily in recent years, prompting the Indian steel industry to continuously exert efforts and significantly boosting its crude steel capacity.
It is worth noting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia (according to background information, their transit trade is active) are regional trade centers, and the export volume may include a portion of transit trade. These countries import large quantities of graphite electrodes from China and often re-export them based on market demand, thus achieving the optimization of resources and the enhancement of trade value. Therefore, the surge in China's graphite electrode exports to the UAE, Malaysia and other places this month is likely to indicate that these countries are playing the role of transit countries, rather than being the final consumers of graphite electrodes. This phenomenon not only further highlights the important role of Chinese graphite electrodes in the global supply chain, but also provides new market expansion opportunities and challenges for Chinese graphite electrode export enterprises.

Feel free to contact us anytime for more information about the Graphite Electrodes market. Our team is dedicated to providing you with in-depth insights and customized assistance based on your needs. Whether you have questions about product specifications, market trends, or pricing, we are here to help.