POSCO's graphite electrodes advance adds new dynamic

Last week's announcement from a POSCO chemicals subsidiary that it had succeeded in developing the manufacturing technology for carbon electrodes for electric-arc-furnace (EAF) steel production is being hailed in South Korea as a "significant breakthrough in the steelmaking industry". But it's questionable whether the Japanese, Chinese and Indian electrode makers that have long dominated supplies of these to Korea's mini-mill sector are sharing the excitement.

POSCO Future M, formerly known as POSCO Chemical, announced on December 12 that in collaboration with technical research institutes and other POSCO group companies, it had succeeded localizing manufacturing technology for making 300mm diameter high-quality UHP (Ultra High Power) artificial graphite electrodes for local steelmakers who, until now, have