AICE Expert Insights | Structural Adjustment in the Calcined Coke Industry: Addressing Short- and Long-Term Challenges Through Supply Chain, Innovation, and Globalization

The calcined coke industry is undergoing structural adjustments, and enterprises need to closely follow policy, technological, and demand trends. By strengthening the supply chain, accelerating innovation, and globalizing their layout, they can balance short-term pressures and long-term opportunities.

Future Market Trend Forecast

1. Short-Term (1-2 Years)

The tight balance between supply and demand will persist, with prices fluctuating at high levels, and the premium ability of low-sulfur, high-value-added products will strengthen. Enterprises need to flexibly adjust procurement strategies and strengthen long-term agreement cooperation with upstream refineries and downstream customers.

2. Medium and Long-Term (3-5 Years)

The demand share from the new energy sector (e.g., lithium battery anodes) will increase, driving the calcined coke industry toward refinement and high-end transformation. Enterprises with high technical barriers and compliance with environmental standards will dominate, and industry concentration will further improve.

Strategic Recommendations

1. Optimize supply chain management, establish diversified raw material procurement channels to hedge against geopolitical and price fluctuation risks, and explore equity cooperation or long-term agreements with high-quality overseas petroleum coke suppliers.

2. Technological upgrades and product differentiation, increase R&D investment in low-sulfur calcined coke and high-end graphite electrode coke to enhance product value-added, and promote energy-saving transformation of calcination processes to reduce carbon emission intensity and meet domestic and international green trade requirements.

3. Adjust market layout, deepen presence in emerging aluminum markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East to expand export share, and establish strategic partnerships with top-tier lithium battery anode enterprises to seize opportunities in the new energy sector.