Graphitepricing stability persisted again in the final week of May, with prices showing resilience amid growing demand-side concerns. The Covid-19 lockdowns in China together with the geopolitical impact of the Ukraine-Russia war continue to dampen demand forelectric vehicles(EV), and in turn EV batteries, and keybattery raw materialsincluding graphite.
Supply-side concerns, however, have also yet to be resolved, with logistical issues and high container costs for material from both Africa and China supporting prices, while news that graphite production in Heilongjiang province is due to resume at more normal levels was offset by news that environmental inspection teams are halting operations in Luobei county from May 18.
Price remains unchanged
Amid strong underlying fundamentals, and with offsetting supply and demand factors, Fastmarkets’ graphite price assessments remain unchanged.Graphite flake 94%C, -100 mesh, fob Chinaremains at $830 per tonne, with graphite spherical 99.95%C, 15 microns, fob China at 3,500-3,800 per tonne. European prices are also steady withgraphite flake 94%C, +100 mesh, cif Europeat $1,400 per tonne.
China graphite prices
Amorphous graphite prices surged amid a recovery in demand from downstream steel producers, with mills switching to amorphous graphite as a replacement for anthracite and pet-coke.
Flake graphite prices were unchanged but tightness has eased with the ending of seasonal winter stoppages in Heilongjiang and amid low liquidity in the refractories sector.
Supply concerns continued with environmental inspection teams halting operations in Luobei county from May 18.
Spherical graphite pricesremained stable on sound demand from the anode sector.
