SMM, August 13:
This week, artificial graphite anode material prices in China remained stable. From a supply-demand fundamentals perspective, the market continued to show the relatively tight supply-demand pattern seen earlier, with no significant signs of structural loosening or further tightening, and remained in an overall tight balance. Coke feedstock prices remained stable this week; however, due to production lags, cost pressure from earlier raw material price increases is being gradually released this month and continues to lend strong support to the cost side of anode materials. Against this backdrop, anode producers showed a relatively strong willingness to push prices higher. However, after completing a round of modest price increases in the first ten days of this month, prices have now entered a stable digestion phase, and the impetus for another near-term price adjustment has weakened. For natural graphite, although end-use demand remains sluggish, prices have long been trading sideways around the cost line, and the tug-of-war between sellers and buyers has entered a stalemate, leaving limited further downside room.
Looking ahead, artificial graphite prices may have room to rise further, supported by improving demand expectations and a continuously tightening supply pattern. In contrast, natural graphite, lacking sufficient end-use demand momentum, is likely to consolidate mainly on a weak note in the short term; a market breakout still needs new catalysts to emerge.
SMM New Energy Research Team
Wang Cong 021-51666838
Ma Rui 021-51595780
Feng Disheng 021-51666714
Lyu Yanlin 021-20707875
Zhang Haohan 021-51666752
Wang Zihan 021-51666914
Wang Jie 021-51595902
Chen Bolin 021-51666836
Xu Yang 021-51666760
Xu Mengqi 021-20707868
Hu Xuejie 021-20707858
Yang Le 021-51595898
Wang Zhaoyu 021-51666827
Li Yisha 021-51666730
Huang Chencong 021-51595860
Lin Ziya 021-5166-6902
