Domestic petroleum coke spot price rose sharply for the second time this year 

Recently, supported by the demand of downstream industries, the spot price of domestic petroleum coke has soared for the second time in the year. In terms of supply, the import volume of petroleum coke in September is relatively small, and the recovery of domestic petroleum coke resources is less than expected. In addition, the sulfur content of petroleum coke recently refined is high, low sulfur petroleum coke resources seriously lack. On the demand side, the demand for aluminum carbon is strong, and the winter storage and preparation in the western region have been opened one after another. The demand for low sulfur petroleum coke is strongly supported in the field of negative electrode materials, and more and more low sulfur petroleum coke resources flow into artificial graphite enterprises.

According to the price trend of low sulfur petroleum coke in Shandong and Jiangsu, the price is 1,950-2,050 yuan/ton at the beginning of 2021. In March, under the dual effects of the decline of domestic petroleum coke supply and the increasing downstream demand, the domestic petroleum coke price continued to rise sharply, especially the low sulfur coke faced the maintenance of some enterprises, and the price soared to 3,400-3,500 yuan/ton, setting a record of 51% increase in a single day. Since the second half of the year, with the support of the demand in the field of carbon for aluminum and steel (carburizing agent and RP graphite electrode), the price has gradually increased. Since August, affected by the continuous sharp rise in the price of low sulfur petroleum coke in Northeast China, the demand for low sulfur petroleum coke in the field of negative electrode materials has partially shifted to East China, accelerating the rise in the price of low sulfur petroleum coke in East China to a certain extent. As of this week, the price of low sulfur petroleum coke in Shandong and Jiangsu had risen to more than 4,000 yuan/ton, a record high, an increase of 1,950-2,100 yuan/ton, or more than 100% over the beginning of the year.

As of this week, according to the distribution of downstream demand fields of petroleum coke in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, the demand in aluminum carbon field accounts for about 38%, the demand in negative electrode field accounts for 29%, the demand in steel carbon accounts for about 22%, and the demand in other fields accounts for 11%. Although the price of low sulfur petroleum coke in the region has risen to more than 4,000 yuan/ton, the proportion of aluminum carbon demand is still at the top of the list with its strong support. In addition, the overall demand in the negative electrode field is good, and the price acceptance ability is relatively strong, and its demand proportion has been as high as 29%. Since the second half of the year, the demand for carburant in the domestic steel field has decreased, the operating rate of electric arc furnace has basically hovered around 60%, and the support for graphite electrode is weak. Therefore, the demand for low sulfur petroleum coke in the steel carbon field has decreased significantly.

In general, PetroChina's low sulfur petroleum coke production enterprises are affected by the production of low sulfur marine fuel to a certain extent, and the output has declined. At present, the index of low sulfur petroleum coke in Shandong and Jiangsu is relatively stable, the sulfur content is basically maintained within 0.5%, and the quality is greatly improved compared with last year. In addition, the future downstream demand in various fields is increasing. Therefore, in the long run, the tight supply of domestic low sulfur petroleum coke resources tends to be normalized, to get the latest news for petroleum coke contact us.