Graphite electrode market demand changes.

After March, the graphite electrode market overall spot resource supply is tight. Inventory, in the fourth quarter of 2021 to leak electricity aspect influence, the market demand is far less than expected, the foreign market demand by the outbreak raised again, inventory reserves in the New Year will is not strong, graphite electrode business inventories tired libraries, although some enterprises to accelerate the money collecting on sale, but downstream demand is not clear, malicious competition and speeding up the market, inventory is not high, But the accumulative imagination is more obvious.

In terms of demand, the demand side of China's graphite electrode market is mainly reflected in the steel market, export market and silicon metal market. Iron and steel market: in January and February, the iron and steel market began to start low, mainstream steel mills have the inventory of graphite electrode in the early preparation, electric furnace steel mills started or general, in the short term, the overall purchase intention of steel mills is not strong, in the short term, the downstream demand is flat on the graphite electrode market has little impact. Silicon metal market: silicon metal industry has not yet passed the dry period, in the short term, silicon metal industry still continues the weak state of construction before the year, the demand for graphite electrode continues the weak state of stability before the year.

In terms of exports, ship freight rates remain high, and professional understanding is expected to continue to operate at a high level for some time, and may ease in 2022. In addition, the congestion problem of global seaports has also been around in 2021. In Europe and East Asia, for example, the average delay is 18 days, and the airline will pay 20% more time than before, resulting in high sea freight. Eu launches anti-dumping investigation into Chinese graphite electrodes. The export situation of Chinese graphite electrode enterprises will bring a certain degree of influence. The long time of the ruling and the imposition of anti-dumping duties will affect the export volume and export prices of Chinese companies.

Comprehensive analysis, graphite electrode market demand surface performance or rebound in the second quarter, and with the downstream steel mills have been started, mainstream steel mills inventory gradually consumed, is expected to be around March steel demand for graphite electrode will gradually recover; Around April, silicon metal industry will pass the dry period, silicon metal industry operation rate is expected to rise, the demand for graphite electrode is good, graphite electrode may reach a high in the second quarter, supply and demand are both strong, due to the short term supply and demand mismatch, the supply price war will be more intense. Three or four quarters, the domestic graphite electrode market or high and low operation.

From WM PPC.