Cost-Push and Tight Supply Drive Up Artificial Graphite Price Center [SMM Lithium Battery Anode Raw Material Market Weekly Review]

Published: Aug 6, 2026 17:13

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[SMM Lithium Battery Anode Raw Material Market Weekly Review: Cost-Driven Price Increase Alongside Tight Supply, Artificial Graphite Price Center Shifts Up] August 6: This week, China’s artificial graphite anode material prices showed an upward trend. The supply-demand relationship maintained the previous pattern of tight effective spot supply.

SMM August 6:

This week, China's artificial graphite anode material prices showed an upward trend. The supply-demand relationship maintained the earlier tight pattern of spot effective supply. On the cost side, raw material prices continued to climb, coupled with a backlog of costs from the previous period that had not yet been fully absorbed. Currently, cost support remains strong, and anode enterprises have a strong willingness to push up prices. For natural graphite, end-use demand was weak, and downstream buyers generally pushed for lower prices, creating a subdued market trading atmosphere. However, since prices have been hovering near the cost line for a long time, the tug-of-war between buyers and sellers entered a stalemate, and further downside room is limited.

Looking ahead, artificial graphite, benefiting from improving demand, tight supply, and gradual cost pass-through, is expected to see its price center steadily rise. Natural graphite, due to insufficient demand-side driving force, is likely to mainly consolidate on a weak note in the short term, with a market breakout awaiting new catalysts.

SMM New Energy Research Team

Wang Cong 021-51666838

Ma Rui 021-51595780

Feng Disheng 021-51666714

Lv 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

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

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