【Needle Coke】Price Adjustment Amid Lack of Positive News

【Needle Coke】Price Adjustment Amid Lack of Positive News

Ⅰ. Current Focus

1. Utilization rate of electric arc furnace steelmaking capacity at 56.26%, a decrease of 3.11%.

2. After a decline, coal tar pitch prices have stabilized with modified coal tar pitch at 3200-3500 yuan/ton and medium temperature coal tar pitch at 3500-3600 yuan/ton.

3. Prices for medium-low sulfur fuel oil slurry are at 3650-4100 yuan/ton. The graphitized petroleum coke prices is available for your reference. 

Ⅱ. Current Market

Affected by weak downstream demand and low shipping sentiment among manufacturers, needle coke prices have continued to decline. The price range for raw needle coke is at 6000-6800 yuan/ton, while the price range for processed needle coke is at 8800-11500 yuan/ton.

Ⅲ. Production and Sales

Supply: Many needle coke coal companies have stopped production or switched to producing coal tar pitch, while some oil-based companies have stopped production and are operating at low loads. Manufacturers have relatively abundant inventory.

Demand: In terms of the anode, there is a tendency to choose low-priced raw materials, and needle coke is being replaced by some petroleum coke. Electric furnace operation continues to decline, and the procurement of needle coke for graphite electrodes has entered a wait-and-see stage, with only a small amount of rigid demand.

Ⅳ. Related Product Market

High-quality low-sulfur petroleum coke is at 3100-3800 yuan/ton; medium-low sulfur fuel oil slurry is at 3650-4100 yuan/ton. Medium temperature coal tar pitch is at 3500-3600 yuan/ton, and modified coal tar pitch is at 3200-3500 yuan/ton. The price of mid-range artificial graphite is at 38000 yuan/ton, and the market price for ultra-high power 700mm graphite electrodes is at 28000-29500 yuan/ton.

Ⅴ. Market Outlook

There is pressure on needle coke supply, and shipping is not smooth. The market lacks positive news, resulting in weak mainstream prices. Contact us to learn more about the carbon market news.