【Análisis de SMM】Las exportaciones de grafito artificial aumentaron un 17,9 % intermensual en agosto, con Europa como principal motor de crecimiento

China's cobalt metal imports stood at around 1,011 mt in August 2026, down 4% MoM but up 134% YoY. By origin, the top three sources were Russia, Indonesia, and Madagascar, with imports of 325 mt, 321 mt, and 51 mt respectively. The price spread between domestic and overseas cobalt metal remained wide in August. However, as some brands of cobalt metal are tied to long-term contracts or operational requirements, material still needed to be shipped to China, which kept imports largely stable without a notable decline. In terms of average import price, China's cobalt metal import average price was $51,752/mt in August 2026, down 12.72% MoM. Cumulative imports in January-August 2026 totaled 9,775 mt, up 115% YoY. On the export side, China's cobalt metal exports were around 486 mt in August 2026, up 55% MoM and up 18% YoY. By destination, the top three were the Netherlands, the US, and India, with exports of 176 mt, 130 mt, and 51 mt respectively. The average export price of cobalt metal was $54,499/mt in August 2026, down 3.55% MoM. Cumulative exports in January-August 2026 totaled 3,462 mt, down 73% YoY.

En agosto de 2026, las importaciones chinas de grafito en escamas alcanzaron las 9.368 toneladas, un 62% más intermensual y un 425% más interanual.

Las importaciones chinas de productos intermedios hidrometalúrgicos de cobalto se situaron en torno a 7.876 toneladas físicas en agosto de 2026, un 51% menos intermensual pero un 50% más interanual. De esta cifra, las importaciones procedentes de la RDC fueron de unas 7.774 toneladas físicas, un 51% menos intermensual pero un 62% más interanual. El precio medio de importación de los productos intermedios hidrometalúrgicos de cobalto en agosto de 2026 fue de 15.495 dólares por tonelada física, un 13,51% menos intermensual.