Prices for calcined coal carbon additives remain stable

According to market research, there have been no significant fluctuations in domestic market prices for calcined coal carbon additives. In Ningxia, a key domestic production region, mainstream prices have remained stable: for the 1–5 mm grade with C ≥ 90% and S ≤ 0.3%, the price ranges from 1,500 to 1,600 yuan per metric ton; for specifications with C ≥ 92%, S ≤ 0.3%, and 1–5 mm, the quoted price is 1,600–1,700 yuan per metric ton. The market is currently stuck in a stalemate where costs on the supply side remain stubbornly high and demand on the demand side lacks upward momentum, with prices primarily fluctuating within a narrow range.

Persistently high supply-side costs limit the potential for price declines. Supply-side costs remain high, limiting the scope for price declines.

The supply of Taixi anthracite—a key raw material—is concentrated, keeping procurement costs for high-quality coal at elevated levels. Combined with fixed expenses such as energy consumption during calcination, environmental regulations, and labor costs, the overall cost floor for producers has risen. Manufacturers have limited room to pass on price reductions, and costs provide strong support at the bottom, making it difficult for prices to fall further.

On the demand side, the recovery of downstream sectors has fallen short of expectations, resulting in insufficient upward momentum. The primary downstream markets are electric arc furnace steelmaking and the foundry industry. At present, steel mills’ profit margins have seen only limited recovery, and production pace remains cautious. Demand for carbon additives is limited to essential restocking, with purchases made primarily on an as-needed basis. There is little willingness to stockpile in large quantities, and market transactions consist mostly of short-term and small orders, lacking a demand surge driven by centralized procurement. Furthermore, the impact of North Korean coal-based carbon additives on the market is intensifying. Amid this fierce competitive landscape, it is even more difficult for Ningxia calcined coal-based carbon additives to see price increases.

In summary, calcined coal carbon additives are highly likely to continue trading within a range-bound pattern. Producers and traders should manage inventory levels, closely follow the pace of downstream orders, and monitor developments related to North Korean coal-based carbon additives as well as shifts in the supply and demand dynamics of the calcined coal carbon additive market to respond flexibly.