Graphite electrode (GE) is an essential component of steel production through the electric arc furnace (EAF) method. After five years of downcycling, the demand for graphite electrode started emerging in 2016 with the increased production of steel through the EAF method. The penetration of EAF-based steel production is expected to be stable in the foreseen future, because of high awareness of the developed economies towards environmentally friendly technologies.
The role of China and India in the production of EAF steel is going to be consequential in the coming years as the current penetration of EAF steel production in both countries are lower than the developed countries but will rise at a greater pace in the coming years. This will imprint a significant upward trend to the demand for graphite electrodes in the coming five years.
The market's supply chain is extremely dynamic with a tight supply of raw materials (petroleum needle coke) as well as graphite electrode coupled with the consistent increase in the EAF steel production. The preference of lithium-ion battery in the increasing production of electric vehicles further takes the supply crunch to the next level. Petroleum needle coke is an essential raw material for the production of the lithium-ion battery. In addition, no substitute of graphite electrode in the production of EAF steel makes the material a strategic resource rather mere a commodity.
The market is segmented based on the product type as ultra-high power (UHP), high power (HP), and regular power (RP). UHP is expected to remain the most dominant as well as the fastest-growing electrode type during the forecast period. Higher durability, higher thermal resistance, and superior quality are some of the properties that are propelling the demand for UHP graphite electrode, especially in the steel industry. All the major global players are primarily into the manufacturing of UHP graphite electrodes.
Based on the application type, the market is segmented as steel, silicon metal, and aluminium. Steel is currently dominating the graphite electrode market and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period as well. There has been a continuous increase in the production of EAF steel worldwide, which is the prime driver of the demand for graphite electrode.
For instance; in China, the share of steel production through EAF increased from 6% in 2016 to 9% in 2017 (still below the global average of 46% excluding China). The government of China has set a target of achieving 20% steel production through EAF by 2020.
In terms of regions, Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest market during the forecast period. China and India are the largest and second-largest steel-producing countries through the EAF method globally. Furthermore, among the leading players, aohui carbon have a capacity expansion plan in order to meet the growing demand for graphite electrodes in the coming five years.
Post time: Oct-26-2020