SMM, April 22:
According to customs data, China's prebaked anode exports in March 2026 were 197,900 mt, up 2.75% YoY and up 46.92% MoM. The roughly calculated average export price of prebaked anodes in March was approximately $841.66/mt, up 7.06% YoY and down 4.12% MoM. China's cumulative prebaked anode exports in 2026 totaled 589,600 mt, up 1.20% YoY.
By domestic export region, prebaked anode exports in March 2026 were concentrated in Shandong, Hunan, and Jiangsu. Shandong ranked first with exports of 136,500 mt, accounting for 69% of the total; followed by Hunan with exports of 20,700 mt (11%), and then Jiangsu with exports of 16,000 mt (8%).
By destination country, China's prebaked anode exports in March 2026 were primarily to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Iceland, accounting for approximately 54% of total exports. Exports to Malaysia were approximately 45,400 mt (23% of total exports), down 20.32% YoY; exports to Indonesia were approximately 33,900 mt (17% of total exports), up 62.42% YoY; and exports to Iceland were 28,700 mt (14% of total), up 170.89% YoY.
In Q1 2026, China's prebaked anode export orders performed moderately overall, with total exports up slightly by 1.20% YoY. The core driver supporting orders came from the Southeast Asian market: concentrated commissioning of new aluminum capacity and partial capacity recovery at enterprises in Indonesia and Malaysia fueled explosive growth in prebaked anode demand, making the region the core engine of export growth. Meanwhile, demand from European countries such as France, Spain, and Norway surged significantly, reflecting the continuously strengthening competitiveness of Chinese products in high-end markets. However, since Q1, geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East led some aluminum enterprises to announce production cuts or suspensions. Combined with improved local prebaked anode supporting capabilities, demand from traditional export markets such as the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Oman contracted notably, exerting certain pressure on China's prebaked anode exports.
Overall, amid the structural adjustment of shifting regional demand globally, China's prebaked anode exports could offset the pressure of declining demand from the traditional Middle Eastern market through market structure optimization and a shift in order center toward Southeast Asia and Europe. Combined with China's stable capacity and supply chain advantages, China's prebaked anode exports are expected to maintain a certain level of growth for the full year.
