Needle Coke Report I: February 2023 Industry Data Briefing

Needle Coke Report I:

February 2023 Industry Data Briefing

1. Key data tendency

83900 tons： In February, the needle coke output was 83,900 tons, including 7300 tons for coal series and 76600 tons for petroleum series;

44%：In February, the needle coke  production enterprises'  capacity utilization rate was 44%, - 5% MOM,+9% YOY;

379 yuan/ton： In February,  China's petroleum series needle coke production profit was meager, with an average profit of 379 yuan/ton. 

2. Leading enterprises' dynamics

1) Shandong HENGYUAN Petrochemical Group Co., Ltd. is located in Linyi County, Dezhou City, Shandong Province. The project with an annual output of 300000 tons of needle coke is under construction. After the project is put into operation, it will be able to produce 160,000 tons of high-quality needle coke annually, which is expected to be put into operation in the third quarter of 2023.

2) Fangda Carbon signed an order for graphite electrode products this year with a steel company in the United Arab Emirates, with an order value of more than 10 million yuan. Last year, the company was very satisfied with the graphite electrode products of different specifications prepared by Fangda, and specifically invited them to participate in the bidding purchase order. Fangda Carbon received orders of more than 10 million yuan for four kinds of graphite electrodes. This is the first time that Fangda carbon products have entered the UAE market. Fangda Carbon has become an important export supplier of graphite electrode in China.

3) Anshan Zhongte New Material Technology Co., Ltd. began to produce and sell high-quality pitch coke products with a monthly output of more than 6000 tons, which are mainly used in lithium battery negative electrode materials and isostatic graphite and other fields. The product has excellent indicators and meets the application requirements in the downstream fields.

3. Needle coke monthly core data

Data source: OilChem China

4. Market influence factors forecast next month

In February, the  needle coke market  transaction price continued to decline, mainly due to the lower production orders of downstream enterprises, the lower willingness to purchase raw materials, and the pressure on the delivery and storage of needle coke.

5. Prediction of market influencing factors in the next month

Data source: OilChem China

6.  Price forecast next month

In March, downstream demand is expected to rebound, and the trading atmosphere of needle coke is expected to improve, while the market price is difficult to rise.

7.  Market risk tips next month

Pay attention to the downstream procurement of needle coke. Learn about the needle coke market follow-up reports, welcome to continue to follow us.