【Carburant】Analysis of the 2023 Carburant Market Prices

Looking at the entire year of 2023, China's domestic carburant prices have experienced an overall downward trend due to the dual impact of raw materials and demand.  

Calcined Coal Carburant: Taking the 92-grade specification as an example, the price has decreased from 3550 CNY/ton at the beginning of the year to 2000 CNY/ton, marking a decrease of 1550 CNY/ton or 43.67%. The raw material, smokeless coal, experienced a 30.49% decline throughout the year, coupled with a lack of proactive procurement on the demand side, resulting in no favorable support for calcined coal carburant. Therefore, the price of calcined coal carburant remained weak in 2023.

Graphitized Petroleum Coke Carburant: In 2023, calcined petroleum coke carburant exhibited a fluctuating downward trend, dropping from 8000 CNY/ton at the beginning of the year to 4000 CNY/ton, representing a decline of 4000 CNY/ton or 50%. In the Northeast region, the price of low-sulfur coke experienced a slight rebound from June to August, leading to a minor uptick in calcined petroleum coke carburant prices. However, with no material support in September, the price of calcined petroleum coke carburant remained weak but stable.

Graphitized Petroleum Coke Carburant: In 2023, domestic prices of graphitized petroleum coke remained weak, falling from 7000 CNY/ton at the beginning of the year to 4500 CNY/ton, marking a decrease of 3500 CNY/ton or 35.71%. The majority of domestic graphitized carburant comes from by-products of negative electrode material manufacturers. With the decline in the operating rate of negative electrode enterprises by only 57.79%, the social inventory of graphitized carburant is not high. Therefore, the price of domestic graphitized carburant has stabilized after the decline.

To sum up: Considering the downward adjustment of raw material prices and the decrease in the operating rate of downstream enterprises, there is no favorable support for carburant market prices. The carburant market is expected to maintain a weak and stable trend in the future. For analysis and forecast of the 2024 carburant market, welcome to contact us.