【Graphite Electrode】New Export Challenge: U.S. Retaliatory Tariffs Incoming

U. S. Announces New Tariff Policy—"Retaliatory Tariffs" to Take Effect

According to CCTV News, on April 2, the U.S. government announced a new tariff measure against all trade partners—so-called "retaliatory tariffs." For China, the retaliatory tariff rate is set at 34%, which, when combined with the previously imposed 20% tariff due to fentanyl-related concerns, brings the total new tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Chinese goods in 2025 to 54%. The tariff is scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on April 9.

Previously, the U.S. imposed a 10%+10% tariff on Chinese products, which had already caused a notable decline in graphite electrode exports. In February 2025, China exported 152 tons of graphite electrodes to the U.S., a 69.54% decrease compared to 499 tons in January 2025, and a 91.48% drop year-on-year compared to 1,783 tons in February 2024. The new retaliatory tariff policy is expected to further hit China's graphite electrode exports to the U.S., potentially pushing export volumes to extremely low levels.

Source: Customs Data / BAIINFO / Baichuan Yingfu Big Data

U.S. Market is Small—Tariff Impact is Limited

According to customs data analysis, China exported a total of 337,900 tons of graphite electrodes in 2024, of which 11,800 tons were exported to the U.S., accounting for 3.5% of the total. In January–February 2025, China's total graphite electrode exports amounted to 57,000 tons, with 600 tons going to the U.S., accounting for just 1.05% of the total. Overall, the impact of U.S. tariffs on China's total graphite electrode exports is relatively limited. The largest export markets for Chinese graphite electrodes remain in neighboring Asian countries and the Middle East.

Source: Customs Data / BAIINFO / Baichuan Yingfu Big Data

Heavy Tariff Burden—Price Advantage Lost

For Chinese graphite electrode companies that still have export business with the U.S., the newly raised tariffs have a significant impact. The compounded tariffs mean that China's price advantage in the U.S. market is essentially lost, and the overall competitiveness will drop noticeably.
For example, the export price of ultra-high power 600mm graphite electrodes is around 18,000 yuan/ton. With the 54% tariff added, the price rises to 27,720 yuan/ton—an additional price gap of nearly 10,000 yuan/ton. This sharply reduces the priority of the U.S. market for Chinese graphite electrode suppliers.

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