【Graphite Electrode】Analysis of China's Graphite Electrode Market Prices in Mid-May

【Graphite Electrode】Analysis of China's Graphite Electrode Market Prices in Mid-May

This week, the transaction price for regular power graphite electrodes φ300-500mm in China was RMB 14,000-15,100/MT, while the transaction price for high power graphite electrodes φ300-500mm was RMB 15,400-15,800/MT, up RMB 200/MT. Overall market transactions remained average.

As of May 19, the operating rate of 50 major electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills producing construction steel in China was 40.2%, down 1.7 percentage points compared with the previous period. Capacity utilization stood at 42.3%, down 0.63 percentage points from the previous period. The average daily output of construction steel was 94,300 MT, decreasing by 1,400 MT compared with the previous period. According to a survey of 247 steel mills, the blast furnace operating rate was 83.52%, up 0.26 percentage points from last week, but down 0.63 percentage points year-on-year. Blast furnace ironmaking capacity utilization reached 89.72%, up 0.16 percentage points week-on-week, but down 2.04 percentage points compared with the same period last year. Although steel mill operating rates and capacity utilization increased slightly compared with last week, they still remained at relatively low levels compared with last year, indicating that demand from steel mills is still weak.

From the refractory demand side, according to survey data on May 14, among 124 brown fused alumina smelting furnaces in China, 52 were under maintenance, with an operating rate of 58.06%, unchanged from the previous week. Among 74 black silicon carbide smelting furnaces, 31 were under maintenance, with an operating rate of 58.11%, also unchanged week-on-week. Among 203 white fused alumina smelting furnaces, 76 were under maintenance, with an operating rate of 62.56%, remaining stable compared with the previous week. Overall, demand for regular power and high power graphite electrodes remains relatively weak.

Raw materials: This week, needle coke and petroleum coke prices remained strongly supported, while pitch prices saw a slight decline. Overall, raw material costs continued to provide strong support. From the supply side, some petroleum coke producers underwent maintenance, resulting in slightly tight market supply and relatively firm price support. It is expected that China's regular power and high power graphite electrode market will remain stable in the short term.

(Source: Mysteel)

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