Artificial Graphite Tight Supply-Demand and Slight Price Increase, Natural Graphite Cost Support Sustaining Stability [SMM Lithium Battery Anode Raw Material Market Weekly Review]

SMM June 11 news:

This week, some artificial graphite anode material prices saw slight increases. Cost side, the raw materials used for spot cargo and outsourced processing were all sourced from earlier high-price orders, resulting in significant comprehensive production cost pressure for enterprises, which provided strong bottom support for artificial graphite market prices. Supply and demand side, downstream end-use demand continued to release steadily, while leading anode factories had insufficient self-owned integrated capacity, leading to an effective supply gap. The tight supply-demand situation drove slight increases in artificial graphite anode prices. Downstream demand for natural graphite anodes remained weak, with sluggish market transactions. Meanwhile, profit margins fell to low levels, making producers very reluctant to cut prices to move goods. The cost floor locked down downside room for prices, keeping overall market prices stable.

Looking ahead, the supply-demand gap in the artificial graphite market is expected to further expand, with momentum for steady price increases. Natural graphite anode material prices are constrained by weak demand and selling prices close to the cost line, likely to continue stable operation in the short term.

SMM New Energy Research Team

Wang Cong 021-51666838

Ma Rui 021-51595780

Feng Disheng 021-51666714

Lyu Yanlin 021-20707875

Zhou Zhicheng 021-51666711

Zhang Haohan 021-51666752

Wang Zihan 021-51666914

Wang Jie 021-51595902

Xu Yang 021-51666760

Xu Mengqi 021-20707868

Hu Xuejie 021-20707858