China's needle coke imports totaled 17,300 tonnes in May, up 25% month-on-month, driven by an increase in oil-based needle coke imports. China exported 1,140 tonnes of needle coke in May, down 800 tonnes or 6.56% from a month ago, on active domestic consumption, data from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) showed.
2023-2024 China Oil-based Needle Coke Imports
Source: GACC
2023-2024 China Coal-based Needle Coke Imports
Source: GACC
Based on data from GACC, oil-based needle coke imports stood at 10,600 tonnes in May, up 6,000 tonnes, or 130% month-on-month, due to stronger domestic downstream demand. However, coal-based needle coke imports were down 2,500 tonnes or 27% over month to 6,700 tonnes. A major Japanese coal-based needle coke manufacturer shut down its units for maintenance, which led to the decrease in China's coal-based needle coke imports.
2023-2024 China Needle Coke Exports
Source: GACC
Faced with active domestic consumption for needle coke, domestic enterprises reduced their exports. According to GACC, needle coke exports were 1,140 tonnes in May, down 800 tonnes, or 6.56% month-on-month. The volume totaled 12,330 tonnes over January-May, up 2,000 tonnes or 20% from last year.
Britain, South Korea, the United States ranked the top three suppliers of needle coke imports for China. The needle coke import volume from Japan, however, cut by 77.91% month-on-month, on account of overhauls, according to GACC.
Needle Coke Imports in May (by source of origin) (Unit: tonnes)
| Country | Import Volume | Proportion | MoM |
| Britain | 6,123.00 | 35.38% | 71.60% |
| South Korea | 5,702.00 | 32.94% | 6.70% |
| U.S. | 4,471.50 | 25.83% | 1,441.90% |
| Japan | 1,011.48 | 5.84% | -77.91% |
Source: GACC
OilChem predicts the import volume of needle coke is poised to drop 13.29% month-on-month to about 15,000 tonnes in June, because of a slowdown in demand from downstream anode material field. Needle coke exports might be around 1,200 tonnes, up 9.09% month-on-month, as the inventory in overseas markets was basically digested, and domestic factories might actively expand international cooperation.
Written by Catherine Sun, sss@oilchem.net
Edited by Aggie Hu, huchenying@mysteel.com
