Market Trends of Needle Coke Industry
Graphite Electrodes Segment to Dominate the Market
• Needle coke is a primary raw material for graphite electrodes in electric furnaces. It is a premium-grade, high-value petroleum coke used to manufacture graphite electrodes with a very low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).
• Owing to the wide application of graphite electrodes in electric arc furnaces, which are used in steel and other metal industries, the application of needle coke for graphite electrodes accounts for the largest application of needle coke.
• Graphite has high thermal conductivity and is resistant to heat and any impact. Also, it has low electrical resistance, which is needed to conduct large electrical currents necessary to melt iron. Thus, it can sustain extremely high heat levels generated by EAF (electric arc furnace). Making the electrodes requires processing coke, including baking and rebaking, to convert it into graphite, which can take up to six months.
• Graphite electrodes are divided into four types: RP graphite electrodes, HP graphite electrodes, SHP graphite electrodes, and UHP graphite electrodes.
• Graphite electrodes are primarily used to manufacture electric arc furnace steel, alloy steel, various alloys, and nonmetals. These electrodes can generate high levels of heat and are also used in refining steel and similar smelting processes. They can melt iron scrap in an electric arc furnace at about 1,600℃.
• According to data from Sanergy Group Limited, the production volume of graphite electrodes worldwide was 8785 thousand metric tons in 2023 and is projected to reach 795.4 thousand metric tons in 2024.
• In December 2023, Graphite India Limited (GIL) invested INR 50 crore (approximately USD 6 million) in compulsorily convertible preference shares of Godi India Private Ltd. This investment provides GIL with a 31% equity shareholding in Godi India. Godi India is engaged in advanced Research and development to support the production of sustainable batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and supercapacitor-based energy storage systems. Godi India’s environment-friendly and carbon-neutral processes include Aqueous Electrode ProcessingTM, Active Dry CoatingTM, and Pranic BinderTM. This investment aligns with GIL’s strategy to diversify into advanced battery and energy storage technologies.
• In November 2023, HEG Limited successfully expanded its graphite electrode capacity in Madhya Pradesh, India, from 80 kilotons per annum to 100 kilotons per annum. The company made a substantial investment of INR 1,200 crore (USD 143.741 million) for this capacity expansion. As a result, HEG is the third-largest graphite electrode company in the Western world.
• The factors mentioned above are expected to affect the demand for needle coke for graphite electrode application during the forecast period.
Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Market
• Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the needle coke market, as it includes countries such as China (the biggest producer and consumer of needle coke) and Japan.
• China holds the largest share of graphite electrode consumption and production capacity in the global scenario. There are over 40 official graphite electrode manufacturers in China. The Chinese market's demand for graphite electrodes and further diversification into lithium-ion battery anodes, fueled by the EV industry's growth, are both driving a comeback in the demand for needle coke. For the foreseeable future, this demand is expected to continue to increase steadily, with corresponding pricing support.
• In addition to this, the Chinese government is also focusing on developing eco-friendly means of producing steel. Hence, Chinese authorities are actively promoting Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology as a means to curb carbon emissions and foster sustainability in the steel industry. EAF technology relies primarily on steel scrap as its raw material, with electricity used to melt it. Driven by supportive national policies, the adoption of EAF technology is poised to become a prevailing trend in China, consequently bolstering the demand for graphite electrodes.
• Japan is one of the leading producers and exporters of petroleum, coal, and tar-based pitch needle coke. Japanese companies are one of the largest producers of graphite electrodes in the world. The market giants of graphite electrodes include Showa Denko, Nippon Carbon, SEC Carbon, and Tokai Carbon.
• The Indian steel industry is actively working to reduce carbon emissions through intensified efforts to decarbonize. As part of this push, there is a rising trend in adopting electric arc furnace (EAF) technology for steel production. EAFs rely on electricity and steel scrap, making them a more sustainable choice than traditional methods.
• With the growing adoption of EAFs, there is a significant expected surge in demand for graphite electrodes. The Indian government's move to eliminate customs duty on scrap imports directly benefits EAF steel manufacturers. Coupled with favorable national policies, these further fuel the shift toward EAFs and drive the demand for graphite electrodes.
• JFE Steel, Japan's second-largest steelmaker, announced in November 2023 its plans to construct a large-scale electric arc furnace (EAF). The EAF is slated to replace an existing blast furnace at its Kurashiki plant by around 2027. This strategic move underscored the company's commitment to curbing carbon emissions, which is in line with global climate change initiatives. The new EAF will primarily cater to automotive and other sectors, with an anticipated annual emissions reduction of 2.6 million tons.
• Graphite electrodes play an important role in the electric arc furnace (EAF) process, a key method for steel production. The steel sector in South Korea is significant, driving the nation's economic growth by catering to industries like automotive, construction, and shipbuilding. The steel industry accounts for 1.5% of the nation's GDP and 4.9% of its manufacturing sector, as reported by the Korean Iron & Steel Association. Notably, South Korea ranks as the sixth-largest steel producer globally.
• Hence, Asia-Pacific is likely to dominate the global needle-coke market based on the aspects mentioned above.
