Skip to content 
China Business Intelligence Network News: Graphite electrode is an important conductive material in the electric smelting industry. It has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high mechanical strength, and good resistance to oxidation and corrosion at high temperatures. It is widely used in electric arc steelmaking furnaces and submerged electric furnaces ( Production of ferroalloys, pure silicon, yellow phosphorus, matte, calcium carbide, etc.), resistance furnaces (such as graphitization furnaces for the production of graphite electrodes, furnaces for melting glass, electric furnaces for the production of silicon carbide, etc.) have become important components of the contemporary raw material industry .
1. Definition of graphite electrode
Graphite electrodes, also known as artificial graphite electrodes, are made from petroleum coke and pitch coke as aggregates and coal pitch as binder, through raw material calcination, crushing and grinding, batching, kneading, shaping, roasting, impregnation, graphitization and mechanical processing. A high temperature resistant graphite conductive material. Graphite electrodes can conduct electricity and generate electricity to melt scrap iron or other raw materials in blast furnaces to produce steel and other metal products. They are mainly used in steel production.
2. Development policy of graphite electrode industry
Graphite electrodes are an important industry related to the national economy and social development. In recent years, the country has issued the “Announcement on Optimizing and Adjusting Temporary Export Control Measures for Graphite Items”, “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Steel Industry” and “The 14th Five-Year Plan” Industrial policies such as the “Raw Materials Industry Development Plan” provide policy support in terms of industry-university-research cooperation and intellectual property protection, creating a good policy environment for the graphite electrode industry.
3. Development status of graphite electrode industry
1. Graphite electrode output
In recent years, the rapid development of steel, electrolytic aluminum, industrial silicon and other industries has driven the continuous increase in graphite electrode production. The “2022-2027 China Graphite Electrode Market Status and Future Development Trends” released by the China Business Industry Research Institute shows that China’s graphite electrode production will reach 1.0181 million tons in 2022, with an average annual compound growth rate of 10.41% in the past five years. In the future, as domestic policies support and guide electric arc furnace short-process steelmaking to replace converter steelmaking, graphite electrode production is expected to further increase, reaching 1.0894 million tons in 2023 and 1.1548 million tons in 2024.
2. Graphite electrode output structure
According to the different raw materials and physical and chemical indicators of the finished products, graphite electrodes can be divided into three categories: ordinary power graphite electrodes, high power graphite electrodes and ultra-high power graphite electrodes. In China, high-quality ultra-high power graphite electrodes refer to graphite electrodes that meet the global market ultra-high power graphite electrode standards. Data show that in terms of output, China’s ultra-high power graphite electrodes account for 38%, high-power graphite electrodes account for 33%, ordinary power and high-quality ultra-high power account for 18% and 11% respectively.
3. Graphite electrode consumption
With the increase in demand from downstream industries, my country’s graphite electrode consumption has continued to grow in recent years. The “2022-2027 China Graphite Electrode Market Status and Future Development Trends” released by the China Business Industry Research Institute shows that China’s graphite electrode consumption will reach 814,100 tons in 2022, an increase of 8.65% from the previous year. Analysts from the China Commercial Industry Research Institute predict that China’s graphite electrode consumption will reach 873,700 tons in 2023 and 933,100 tons in 2024.
4. Proportion of downstream applications of graphite electrodes
From the perspective of application, steel smelting is the main application field of graphite electrodes, accounting for about 80% of the total consumption of graphite electrodes. Among them, electric furnace steelmaking accounts for 51.2% of the total graphite electrode consumption, and crude steel refining accounts for about 29.4% of the total graphite electrode consumption. The consumption of yellow phosphorus and metallic silicon accounted for 4.8% and 4.1% respectively.
5. Competitive landscape of graphite electrodes
In the first half of 2023, China’s graphite electrode industry output CR10 reached 68.23%, and industry concentration continues to increase. Among them, the companies ranking in the first echelon in terms of output include Fangda Carbon (Lanzhou), Jilin Carbon, Liaoning Dan Carbon, and Jialong New Materials, the second echelon companies include Jiangsu Jianglong, Yangzi Carbon, and Kaifeng Carbon, and the third echelon companies include Yingkou Desheng, Basan Carbon, Fangda Carbon (Fushun).
1. Fangda Carbon
Fangda Carbon New Material Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 1999 and went public in 2002. Its predecessor was Lanzhou Carbon Factory, which was founded in 1965. Fangda Carbon’s main products include graphite electrodes, carbon bricks, new carbon materials and other carbon products. The products are widely used in metallurgy, energy, chemical industry, machinery and other industries and fields, and are sold well in more than 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across the country. And exported to more than 60 countries and regions overseas. Fangda carbon graphite electrodes account for more than 20% of the domestic market, and account for more than 30% of overseas exports.
In the first three quarters of 2023, Fangda Carbon achieved operating income of 3.877 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 1.21%; net profit attributable to shareholders of listed companies was 384 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 17.66%. Judging from the revenue share of its main products, Fangda Carbon’s carbon products and iron powder will achieve revenue of 4.889 billion yuan and 135.9 million yuan respectively in 2022, accounting for 91.89% and 2.55% respectively.
2. Jilin Carbon
Jilin Carbon Co., Ltd. is an important comprehensive carbon product R&D and production enterprise in China. Its predecessor was one of the 156 key projects constructed during the country’s “First Five-Year Plan” period. It began preparations for construction in 1952 and was completed and put into production in 1955. It enjoys the title of “China Carbon “The Cradle of Industry”. The products produced by Jilin Carbon include graphite electrodes, carbon fibers, special carbon products, electrode pastes, etc. The products are rich in variety and widely used in metallurgy, chemical industry, machinery, electronics, medical, scientific research and new materials. The products are sold to all provinces and cities in China. It has more than 300 enterprises in cities and autonomous regions, and is exported to more than 40 countries and regions in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Africa.
3.Liaoning Dantan
Liaoning Dantan Technology Group Co., Ltd. is a large private enterprise specializing in the research, development, production and sales of carbon materials. The group company was founded in 1994 and its headquarters is located in Fengcheng City, Liaoning Province. Dantan Group has first-class carbon product production equipment and advanced process technology. The production capacity of stone electrodes is 120,000 tons/year, covering more than 90 varieties and specifications in four series of medium 200-800mm ordinary power, impregnated, high power and ultra-high power. . Dan charcoal products have the characteristics of high mechanical strength, good thermal shock resistance and low consumption. They are sold well in more than 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across the country, and exported to more than 40 countries and regions including Japan, South Korea, Europe, America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. .
4.Yichengxinneng
Henan Yicheng New Energy Co., Ltd. was established in 1997. It is a listed company in the new energy and new materials sector, one of the three core industries of China Pingmei Shenma Group. It is a company integrating basic research, product development, and production of new energy and new materials. A mixed-ownership listed enterprise integrating sales and marketing. Yicheng New Energy focuses on the new energy and new material industry, forming “green energy”, “energy storage” and “carbon materials” as the core, with ultra-high power graphite electrodes, high-efficiency photovoltaic cells, needle coke, power lithium-ion batteries, and negative electrodes Materials, wind and photovoltaic power station construction and other leading products are the pillars, and the new industrial structure is based on raw and auxiliary materials and related products. The main products include large-sized ultra-high power graphite electrodes, etc.
Kaifeng Pingmei New Carbon Material Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2002 and is a subsidiary of Yicheng Xinneng. It is mainly engaged in needle coke. Development and production of special graphite materials, ultra-high power graphite electrodes and supporting joint components. By taking the lead in developing high-quality needle coke raw materials for ultra-high-power graphite electrodes, Kaifeng Carbon breaks foreign monopoly and achieves self-sufficiency in raw materials for graphite electrodes.
In the first three quarters of 2023, Yicheng New Energy achieved operating income of 7.253 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 3.16%; it achieved a net profit attributable to shareholders of listed companies of 99.2294 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 42.83%. From the perspective of main products, in the first half of 2023, Yicheng Xinneng graphite electrodes and related products achieved revenue of 306.7 million yuan, accounting for 6.28%.
5. Jianglong Carbon
Jianglong Carbon Group was founded in 1987 and is the only carbon product manufacturer in Jiangsu Province with a complete set of processes. As a leading carbon product solution provider, Jianglong Carbon is deeply involved in graphite electrodes. While providing green and high-quality graphite electrodes to global steelmaking companies, it also continues to explore and innovate in the carbon field, striving to grow into a world-renowned carbon brand. The main products include ultra-high power graphite electrodes, high power graphite electrodes, ordinary power graphite electrodes, graphite blocks, graphite rods, carburizers, etc. Currently, Jianglong Carbon has an annual output of 60,000 tons of various graphite electrodes and 30,000 tons of other carbon products.
5. Development Prospects of Graphite Electrode Industry
1. Strict environmental regulations and policies promote industry development
In recent years, the Chinese government has promulgated a series of regulations and policies to accelerate technological innovation of graphite electrode manufacturers, aiming to promote industrial integration and eliminate backward production capacity. Affected by the policy, Chinese graphite electrode manufacturers that fail to meet environmental protection requirements must shut down their production facilities. This will benefit leading graphite electrode manufacturers with environmentally friendly production processes and the ability to manufacture high-quality graphite electrodes, helping them to further increase their market share. share and enhance market competitiveness.
2. The environment for industrial and export development is improving
China’s industrial development has promoted the steady development of downstream applications of graphite electrodes, such as the electric arc furnace steelmaking market, industrial silicon market and yellow phosphorus market. Therefore, stable industrial development is one of the driving forces of China’s graphite electrode market. On the other hand, as the technical level and product competitiveness of China’s graphite electrode industry continue to improve, China’s graphite electrodes will be increasingly recognized and trusted by overseas customers. The export volume of graphite electrodes is expected to further increase, becoming a driving force for the digestion of China’s graphite electrode production. The key factor.
3.Advanced and mature technology
Technological innovation has greatly promoted the industrial transformation and upgrading of China’s graphite electrode industry. Most graphite electrode manufacturers, especially some industry leaders, focus on applying environmentally friendly technologies to graphite electrode production. Advanced and mature technology is very important for manufacturing high-quality graphite electrodes and reducing energy consumption during the production process of graphite electrodes. Therefore, advanced and mature technology will help the healthy development of China’s graphite electrode market.
