The prices for electrodes made from synthetic graphite have been rising strongly as a result of feedstock cost rises, increased competition and tightened product availability

China’s graphite electrode prices ticked up in the fortnight to Wednesday February 16 on needle coke prices that have risen continuously over the past couple of months, as well as high graphitization costs due to restrained capacity with competition from the anode sector, market sources have said

Definitive anti-dumping duties imposed by the European Commission (EC) on China-origin graphite electrodes could lead to a shift in patterns of demand. But the outlook will probably remain uncertain until the final duties are decided in April this year, sources said

Fastmarkets’ graphite electrodes launch illuminates rising offer prices amid limited availability, according to market participants

Fastmarkets will launch two price assessments for high power (HP) and ultra high power (UHP) graphite electrodes on Wednesday January 19

China’s decarbonization drive could result in increased demand for graphite electrodes amid the global trend toward more steelmaking based on electric-arc furnaces (EAFs), although supply risks may continue in the near term against a backdrop of energy controls, sources have told Fastmarkets

Shortages last year of the ultra-high-performance graphite electrodes used by EAF-based steelmakers and some non-ferrous metal producers rapidly pushed up their price; Metal Bulletin asks Hidehito Takahashi, managing corporate officer of Showa Denko K.K. and general manager of the Carbon Division, about the market’s global dynamics and future.

The graphite electrodes used in electric-arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking have changed from being a commodity to a strategic material, with prices surging last year amid drastic changes in market conditions, an industry conference has heard.

The Indian government is to impose a 20% export duty on graphite electrodes from April 1, according to the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas).