- Japan sees shift in electrode imports post-AD tax
- Chinese supply dips, imports from India, South Korea increase
Japan Metal Daily: Japan’s import pattern for artificial graphite electrodes used in electric furnaces has changed notably in recent months. Since Apr’25, imports of Chinese electrodes have dropped significantly after the imposition of anti-dumping (AD) taxes. At the same time, electrodes have started arriving from South Korea.
This shift is raising concerns of possible bypass exports. Currently, Japan’s AD-related laws do not include specific regulations to prevent such bypass practices, which may trigger calls for new trade protection measures.
Chinese imports fall, Indian supplies rise
To prevent unfair pricing, Japan introduced a provisional AD tax of 95.2% on Chinese graphite electrodes at the end of Mar’25. The same tax rate officially came into effect on 3 Jul’25. Following this, imports from China dropped sharply. In Apr-June’25, only 490 tons (t) were imported from China-a quarter of the 2,040 t imported during Jan-Mar’25.
This sharp drop indicates that the AD tax is already having an impact. However, prior to the tax enforcement, there was a surge in Chinese exports to Japan, possibly to beat the tariff deadline. This has led to the current accumulation of Chinese stock in the Japanese market.
Meanwhile, imports from India have risen rapidly. In Apr-Jun’25, Japan imported 1,033 t of electrodes from India, around 67% more than the previous quarter. With Chinese imports facing heavy duties, Indian products are likely to see more demand in the coming months.
South Korea enters the market amid suspicion
In a surprising move, South Korea has emerged as a new exporter of graphite electrodes to Japan. South Korea exported 50 t in May and 18 t in June. Although the volume is still small, this has raised concerns within Japan’s industry. The key issue is that South Korea has no integrated manufacturer capable of producing graphite electrodes from raw material to finished product.
Industry experts suspect that semi-finished electrodes are being shipped from China to South Korea, processed there, and then exported to Japan. This allows the products to bypass Japan’s AD tax on Chinese goods, weakening the intended effect of the trade measure.
Low prices and need for policy action
The average import price of Korean products in May and June was around JPY 380,000/t (USD 2,550.8/t) – well below the overall market average of under JPY 500,000/t (USD 3356.4/t). This significant price difference raises fears that Korean products may aggressively expand in Japan by undercutting the market.
This situation mirrors a broader trend in the steel industry, where low-cost steel products are entering Japan as AD measures expand globally. Looking at the electrode trade, it is becoming urgent for Japan to introduce policies that prevent bypass exports. These steps are necessary not only to make AD measures effective but also to protect the domestic industry from indirect import routes.
Note: This article has been written in accordance with a content exchange agreement between Japan Metal Daily and BigMint.
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