After falling for over about four months, the Graphite Electrode (GE) prices in China turned stable last week and now continuing the trend the GE prices have remained unchanged this week also.
The prevailing prices of 450mm UHP grade graphite electrodes is around RMB 34,000 – 36,000/MT (USD 5,000 – 5,300/MT) and for 600mm the same is around RMB 60,000 – 70,000 per tonne (USD 8,900 – 10,400/MT). The price of ordinary power GE of size 300-600mm is around RMB 28,000-35,000/MT (USD 4,160 – 5,200/MT).
The prices had been falling in China with the start of winter heating season during which operating rates of the electric furnaces subsequently slows down. However, the same stabilised last week as China’s domestic steel market picked up a little pace and the number of export inquiries increased. This week also there was no major change in the country’s GE trade dynamics that resulted in stable prices.
However, if we look at the overall situation in China, the GE prices in China will continue to remain more or less stable with slight fluctuations in the coming days. This is because country’s environment industry has announced this week that its war against smog will continue this year also and as a part of strict environmental protection measure, some of the GE enterprises have stopped their production and works of few enterprises in Henan has also been affected.
As per the market sources, there is enough GE stock in the market at present and amid the production restrictions, some quantity of GE stocks will be digested.
In terms of needle coke also, domestic prices are stable and are trending at RMB 23,000 – 27,000/MT (coal-based). The imported needle coke prices in China are heard at USD 3,900 – 4,200 per tonne.
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