China’s anode grade coke (used in aluminum and steel industries) prices remained largely unchanged m-o-m in September after sliding in last three months. The country is the largest producer of the anode grade coke, also known as raw petroleum coke, which is a by-product of pet coke.
The aluminum industry generally uses anode coke with higher sulphur content to the tune of 3.5% maximum but the steel industry uses calcined petroleum coke (CPC) with lower sulphur to the tune of 1.5 -2% maximum. Prices of Chinese anode coke with low sulphur (S 0.8%) were assessed at $950-1025/t, and for 2%S at $800-$850/t, FOB.
Demand for low-suphur coke from the battery market in China remained firm. On the other hand, demand for low-vanadium (V<200ppm) anode coke was higher, restricting the use of Russian anode coke which has vanadium as high as 800-900 ppm.
The same is the case with Venezuelan anode coke which has high vanadium content. An anode coke cargo from Europe with 2% sulphur and lower vanadium content (<200ppm) was imported by China at $600/t CFR.
In case of India, RPC prices were reduced by IOCL by INR 4,600/t ($55-56/t) on ex-refinery basis with effect from 14 September 2022. The price now ranges from a high of INR 56,170/t to a low of INR 54,500/t, depending upon the quality at different refineries.
Key deals in the global market
A cargo from BP Spain with sulphur 2.8% arrived China at $488/t, CFR India in September.
A 25,000 tonne cargo from YPF refinery Argentina arrived China at $795/t CFR.
A 35,000 tonne cargo from Oman arrived India at $481/t CFR on two ports, Vizag and Paradip.
A 10,000 tonne cargo from Dumai Indonesia is booked by Goa Carbon at $795/t FOB.
CPC offers remain unchanged
CPC, which is produced from RPC, is a form of highly electrically conductive, densed carbon with very low specific electrical resistance, and having fixed carbon of approximately 99.5%.
Chinese CPC prices remained firm in September 2022 and were quoted at $1,000/t FOB. In case of India, domestic CPC prices were reduced by calciners after the decrease in RPC prices in mid-August. The price for the same is heard at around INR 80,000/t for 3.5%S to INR 1,10,000/t for 1%S.
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