Graphite electrodes play an important role in the electric smelting industry and are indispensable conductive materials. In recent years, with the vigorous development of industries such as steel and electrolytic aluminum, the production of graphite electrodes has continued to increase. In 2023, China’s graphite electrode production will reach 873000 tons, and it is predicted that it will reach 1.002 million tons by 2024.
According to the different raw materials and physical and chemical indicators of the finished product, graphite electrodes can be divided into three categories: ordinary power, high power, and ultra-high power. Among them, China’s ultra-high power graphite electrodes account for 38%, and high power accounts for 33%. This reflects the growing demand in the market for high-performance graphite electrodes.
With the increasing demand from downstream industries, the consumption of graphite electrodes is also steadily increasing. In 2023, it is expected to reach approximately 874000 tons, and in 2024, it is projected to reach 933100 tons. The downstream application fields of graphite electrodes are extensive, mainly concentrated in electric furnace steelmaking, crude steel refining and other fields. Electric furnace steelmaking is the main source of demand for graphite electrodes, accounting for 51.2%, followed by crude steel refining, accounting for 29.4%.
The development of China’s graphite electrode industry is closely linked to industries such as steel, electrolytic aluminum, and industrial silicon. On the one hand, the rapid development of these industries has driven the continuous increase in graphite electrode production; On the other hand, the quality and performance of graphite electrodes directly affect the production efficiency and product quality of downstream industries.
