The average annual operating rate of independent electric arc furnaces is only 40%. This year, the operating situation of steel mills has significantly improved. According to Mysteel research, as of March 2nd, there are 87 independent arc furnace steel mills in China with an average operating rate of 68.59%.
On the other hand, the price of needle coke has also loosened. According to Choice data, the price of calcined coke has dropped from last year’s high of 13500 yuan/ton to the current 10500 yuan/ton. The cost of high-power and ultra-high power graphite electrodes has begun to decline, and with the decrease in demand for needle coke resources in graphite negative electrode materials, the supply and demand structure has changed, and the cost of graphite electrodes continues to decline.
Zhu Zeru, Market Operations Department of Shandong Yiwei New Materials Co., Ltd., told Caixin News that due to the decline of national subsidies for new energy vehicles, the demand for high-energy density batteries has decreased. Some battery and negative electrode material companies have reduced their procurement of needle coke and instead opted for cheaper petroleum coke as raw material.
Post time: 3月-20-2024
