The demand for graphite electrodes (GE) which is a key raw material for EAFs (Electric arc furnaces) is on a rise especially since the latter half of 2017 amid China’s anti-pollution campaign.
China’s fight to deal with increasing pollution levels has led to the closure of many polluting induction and graphite electrode units and promotion of EAFs method of steel production which has resulted in GE shortage in the global market and rise in its demand.
The key graphite electrode producing nations in the world are China, Japan, India, Russia, EU (European Union) and U.S. Let us analyse how much GE does these countries exported in the first half of 2018.
China’s GE export rises by 52% in H1 2018
China is the largest graphite electrode producer and exporter in the world. As per the provisional numbers, country’s exports are being recorded at 138,478 tonnes in H1 CY18 registering a hike of 52% against the corresponding period of the previous year 2017.
China’s top graphite electrodes importing countries were Iran, EU, Russia, Canada and Turkey which accounted for about 62% share of the total imports in H1 2018.
Out of the country’s total graphite electrode exports, highest exports were made to Iran at 34,690 tonnes, about 25%. The percentage share of European Union in China’s total GE exports stood second highest at 14% (20,000 tonnes) followed by Russia at 8% (11,505 tonnes). Exports to both Canada and Turkey were recorded at 9664 tonnes (7%) and India at 9,624 tonnes (7%).
In 2017, China has exported 201,695 tonnes of graphite electrodes with the highest exports being made to Russia at 23,111 tonnes.
Japan’s GE export rises by 14% in H1 CY18
According to Japan’s customs data, the country exported 52,140 tonnes of GE in the first half of 2018 registering an increase of 14% y-o-y basis as the same stood at 45,667 tonnes in H1 2017.
South Korea was the highest importer of Japanese graphite electrodes at 11,610 tonnes (a fall of 3.5% y-o-y basis) followed by U.S. at 5,590 tonnes (a fall of 22.5% y-o-y basis). Japan’s GE exports to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain increased significantly y-o-y basis and were recorded at 3,791 tonnes and 3,558 tonnes respectively.
In 2017, Japan has exported 98,670 tonnes of graphite electrodes with the highest exports being made to South Korea at 25,832 tonnes (percentage share of 26%).
European Union GE exports registered fall of 8% in H1 CY18
According to customs data, EU exports of graphite electrodes fell by 8% in H1 CY18 against the previous year and stood at 51,670 tonnes.
Turkey was the highest importer of EU’s graphite electrodes at 9,765 tonnes (an increase of 28.6% y-o-y basis) followed by Russia at 6,759 tonnes (a fall of 29.7% y-o-y basis).
EU’s GE exports to Iran stood at 4,343 tonnes (an increase of 36%) and to U.S. at 3,699 tonnes (an increase of 4.3% y-o-y basis).
In 2017, European Union exported about 115,960 tonnes in total with the highest exports being made to Turkey at 16,398 tonnes (percentage share of 14%).
India’s GE exports rise BY 6% in H1 CY18
According to customs data, India’s graphite electrodes exports surged by 6% during Jan to Jun’18 against the corresponding period of previous year and were recorded at 40,906 tonnes.
India exported highest GE to Iran at 5,956 tonnes (a fall of 31.4% y-o-y basis) followed by Saudi Arabia at 5,350 tonnes (an increase of 71.4% y-o-y basis) and Turkey at 4,640 tonnes (a surge of 15% y-o-y basis). India’s graphite electrodes to U.S. and Egypt stood at 3,832 tonnes and 2,812 tonnes respectively.
In 2017, the country exported about 80,447 tonnes of graphite electrodes with the highest exports being made to Iran at 13,909 tonnes (percentage share of 17%).
Russia’s GE exports increases by 24% in H1 CY18
The country exported 22,009 tonnes of graphite electrodes in H1 CY18, a surge of 24% y-o-y basis.
The highest importer of Russia’s graphite electrodes was U.S. at 8,227 tonnes (an increase of 58% y-o-y basis) followed by Kazakhstan at 3,073 tonnes (a fall of 15% y-o-y basis) and Belarus at 2,104 tonnes (a surge of 5.3%).
In 2017, Russia exported about 39,458 tonnes of graphite electrodes and its highest importer was U.S. at 13,206 tonnes (a percentage share of 33%).
U.S. graphite electrode exports fall by 14% in H1 CY18
United States exported about 8,103 tonnes of graphite electrodes in the first half of 2018 registering a fall of 14% against the corresponding period of the previous year.
Its highest importer was Mexico at 2,596 tonnes (an increase of 13% y-o-y basis) followed by Canada at 2,445 tonnes (an increase of 19% y-o-y basis).
In 2017, Russia exported about 19,003 tonnes of graphite electrodes and its highest importer was Mexico at 4,428 tonnes (a percentage share of 23%).
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