【Graphite Electrode】Year of Loong: Enterprises Forge Ahead

During the Spring Festival, leading graphite electrode enterprises continued production without stopping, maintaining the pre-holiday production rhythm. Small and medium-sized graphite electrode enterprises orderly produced calcination and roasting workshops, with many suspending pressing and graphitization processes. It is expected that graphite electrode production in February will decrease slightly compared to the previous month. 

In terms of raw materials, petroleum-based needle coke enterprises face significant cost pressures, with some companies experiencing losses. Many mainstream needle coke enterprises have maintenance plans scheduled for March and April, while coal-based needle coke enterprises currently show no intention to resume operations. After the Spring Festival, needle coke enterprises are hoping for price increases with strong expectations.

In terms of demand, during the Spring Festival, electric arc furnace steel plants were mostly in a shutdown state, and blast furnace steel plants were also operating below capacity, leading to a slight decline in graphite electrode consumption.

Upon returning from the holiday, there is currently no bidding information in the market, but steel prices have been running relatively strong recently, leading to an improvement in market sentiment. Electric arc furnaces are gradually resuming production at the end of the month, and graphite electrode demand is expected to gradually increase. It is predicted that graphite electrode prices will remain stable after the holiday, with subsequent strong support from rising raw material prices and increasing demand. Follow us to learn about the latest production and sales situation in the graphite electrode market.