SHANGHAI, Jan. 15 (SMM) – SMM’s survey found that price of domestic prebaked anode held stable after the New Year holiday. Mainstream traded prices were RMB 2,950-3,300/mt in Shandong, RMB 2,950-3,200/mt in Henan, RMB 3,400-3,500/mt in Guizhou, and RMB 3,500-3,600/mt in Gansu.

The price of petroleum coke, the major raw material in prebaked anode, edged up. The price of medium-sulfur petroleum coke advanced RMB 20/mt to RMB 1,380/mt. Despite the rise in petroleum coke prices, carbon plants explain that prebaked anode prices will not follow suit in the near term for two reasons. First, aluminum smelters are under pressure to resist higher input costs. Second, the price war among prebaked anode producers will continue due to overcapacity. Many prebaked anode producers are reporting low margins or even suffering losses.

One large prebaked anode producer in Guizhou informed SMM that, while there is little room for prebaked anode prices to rise right now, a RMB 100/mt rise is expected in February. Two prebaked anode producers in Shandong and Henan, each with an annual capacity of 150,000 mt said prebaked anode prices will maintain the current levels given that aluminum prices have not yet rising sharply.