【Needle Coke】Stable Prices, Inventory Digestion

1. Current Focus

1) Mainstream prices for modified coal asphalt range from 4,400 to 4,700 yuan per ton, while medium-temperature coal asphalt is priced at around 4,500 to 4,600 yuan per ton.

2) The average operating rate for electric furnace steel is 66.15%, representing a month-on-month increase of 3.93 percentage points and a year-on-year increase of 5.38 percentage points.

3) Mainstream prices for low- to medium-sulfur oil slurry range from 3,550 to 3,850 yuan per ton. To learn more about the market prices of calcined coke...

2. Recent Market Trends

Source: Oilchem

Source: Oilchem

Downstream demand has not recovered significantly, leading to less proactive production by needle coke enterprises. The industry is observing stable prices, with mainstream prices for raw needle coke ranging from 5,200 to 6,000 yuan per ton, and mainstream prices for calcined needle coke ranging from 8,000 to 9,800 yuan per ton.

3. Production and Sales Dynamics

Supply side: Many needle coke coal enterprises have either halted production or shifted to producing asphalt coke, with no fixed schedule for resuming operations. Oil-based enterprises are maintaining low-capacity operations.

Demand side: Demand from the negative electrode industry has not shown significant improvement. Electric furnace operations are average, and the demand for needle coke in graphite electrodes remains weak.

4. Market Trends for Related Products

Mainstream prices for low- to medium-sulfur oil slurry range from 3,500 to 3,850 yuan per ton.

Mainstream prices for modified coal asphalt range from 4,400 to 4,700 yuan per ton, while medium-temperature coal asphalt is priced at around 4,500 to 4,600 yuan per ton.

Mid-range artificial graphite is priced at around 34,000 yuan per ton, while ultra-high-power 700mm graphite electrodes are priced at around 26,000 yuan per ton.

5. Future Forecast

Needle coke production remains at a low level, focusing on inventory digestion. There are no positive expectations for downstream demand, leading to a stable price outlook for the needle coke market. Follow our daily reports for the latest market trends for needle coke and related products.