SMM, October 7:
Artificial graphite anode material prices edged up before the holiday and remained largely stable during the holiday. Before the holiday, supported by both the cost side and supply-demand dynamics, prices completed a round of increases: on the cost side, low-sulphur petroleum coke and oil-based green needle coke prices remained firm, supported by high international oil prices, while the graphitisation tolling market was in tight supply-demand balance with expectations for price hikes. The resonance between material and processing costs provided solid support for artificial graphite prices. On the supply-demand side, downstream orders during the "September peak season" fluctuated at highs, and enterprises took advantage of economies of scale during this period to dilute actual costs. Anode enterprises showed rising willingness to schedule production, but inventory remained at low levels, and the tight supply-demand pattern persisted. As a result, artificial graphite anode material prices trended upward. During the holiday, raw material prices and graphitisation processing fees remained stable, and with some pre-holiday price adjustments already implemented, prices shifted to stable operation. Looking ahead, cost support is expected to remain solid, end-use demand continues to be released, the tight effective spot supply pattern persists, and delivery cycles remain protracted. Artificial graphite prices still have upward momentum.
Natural graphite anode material continues to show weak end-use demand, with prices hovering near the cost line at low levels for an extended period. Buyers and sellers remain in a stalemate, and quotes during the holiday were largely stable. Looking ahead, a short-term reversal is unlikely, and prices are expected to consolidate at lows.

SMM New Energy Research Team
Wang Cong 021-51666838
Ma Rui 021-51595780
Feng Disheng 021-51666714
Lyu 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



