1. Overview of needle coke market in China
Since April, the market price of needle coke in China has increased by 500-1000 yuan. In terms of shipping anode materials, the mainstream enterprises have sufficient orders, and the production and sales of new energy vehicles have increased, keeping both production and sales booming. Therefore, needle coke is still a hot spot in market procurement, and the performance of cooked coke market is mediocre, but the market start-up is expected to go up in May, when the shipment of cooked coke market will improve.As of April 24th, the price range of needle coke market in China is 11,000-14,000 yuan/ton of cooked coke; Green coke is 9,000-11,000 yuan/ton, and the mainstream transaction price of imported oil needle coke is 1,200-1,500 USD/ton; Coke is 2200-2400 USD/ton; The mainstream transaction price of imported coal needle coke is 1600-1700 USD/ton.
2. the downstream starts to go up, and the demand for needle coke is good.In terms of graphite, the terminal electric furnace steel market started less than expected. By the end of April, the operating rate of the electric furnace steel market was around 72%. Under the influence of the recent epidemic situation, some areas were under closed management, and the production and downstream steel demand of steel mills were still restricted, and the steel mills were under-started. Especially, some electric furnace steel mills, under the influence of weak terminal steel demand, some electric furnace steel mills controlled their production independently, and the consumption of graphite electrodes slowed down. The steel mills mainly purchased goods on demand. The market performance of graphite electrode is average, and the overall shipment of needle coke cooked coke is flat.As for anode materials, the construction in April is expected to be around 78%, which is slightly higher than that in March. Since the beginning of 2022, anode materials have surpassed graphite electrodes to become the main flow direction of needle coke in China. With the expansion of market scale, the demand of anode materials for raw materials market is increasing day by day, and the orders of needle coke are sufficient, and some manufacturers are in short supply. In addition, the price of petroleum coke of related products has risen sharply recently, and the price of some products is close to that of needle coke. Taking Fushun Daqing petroleum coke as an example, by April 24th, the ex-factory price of the market has increased by 1100 yuan/ton compared with the beginning of the month, with a range of 17%. In order to reduce the cost or increase the purchase amount of needle coke, some anode material enterprises have further increased the demand for green coke.
3. the raw material price is high, and the needle coke cost is high.
The international price of crude oil was affected by the Russian-Ukrainian war and related public events, and the price fluctuated upward, and the price of slurry rose accordingly. As of April 24th, the average market price was 5,083 yuan/ton, up by 10.92% from the beginning of April. In terms of coal tar, the new price of coal tar market was raised, which supported the price of coal tar pitch. As of April 24th, the average market price was 5,965 yuan/ton, up by 4.03% from the beginning of the month. The prices of oil slurry and coal tar pitch are relatively high, and the market cost of needle coke is high.
4. the market outlook forecast
Supply: It is expected that the supply of needle coke market will keep increasing in May. On the one hand, oil-based needle coke production enterprises started normally, and there is no maintenance plan for the time being. On the other hand, some maintenance enterprises of coal-based needle coke started production. Meanwhile, new equipment was put into production and coke was produced, and the market supply increased. Overall, the operating rate of needle coke market in May was 45%-50%.Price: In May, the price of needle coke is still dominated by the upward trend, with the upward range of 500 yuan. The main favorable factors are: on the one hand, the raw material price is running at a high level, and the needle coke cost is high; On the other hand, the construction of downstream anode materials and graphite electrodes is increasing day by day, the orders are not decreasing, and the trading of green coke market is active. At the same time, the price of petroleum coke of related products has risen sharply, and some downstream enterprises may increase the purchase of needle coke, and the demand side continues to be favorable. In summary, it is estimated that the price of cooked coke in China's needle coke market will be 11,000-14,500 yuan/ton. Raw coke is 9500-12000 yuan/ton. (Source: Baichuan Information)
Post time: Apr-25-2022