Prices of lithium battery anode materials dip

For the week ending September 21, anode material prices saw a minor drop. Cost-wise, low-sulphur petroleum coke prices decreased by 400-500 yuan/mt before stabilising. Oil-based needle coke prices remained stable, with manufacturers focusing on managing inventory based on sales. Graphitisation costs stayed stable. With rising anode integration, independent graphitisation manufacturers face decreased demand and potential bidding-driven processing fee reductions. In terms of supply and demand: recent EV market demand hasn't surged, with some energy storage manufacturers cut production and purchases due to high inventories. As the peak of stockpiling is over, overall anode demand weakens. Anode manufacturers are cutting costs and enhancing integration while expanding capacity. There was a slight dip in the industry operating rate.