China’s needle coke imports rise 52% in Jul’21

Customs data shows that China imported 10,000 t of needle coke in Jul’21, up 52% on year. The country’s import of oil-based needle coke in Jul stood at 2,200 t, up 83%, y-o-y. The average import price stood at $1,400/t. Imports of coal-based needle coke in Jul stood at 7,800 t, 45% of which was used in the lithium-battery segment whereas 55% was consumed for the graphite electrode (GE) industry. The average import price stood at $1,000/t. China, which is also a needle coke producer, exported 688 t of material in Jul, down 31% on year.