Coal tar pitch purchase activities in China slow down
2023-03-15 08:43:01 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 15 Mar 23 - As prebaked anode producers cut production from late last month, the demand for coal tar pitch became weak. Present mainstream prices for coal tar pitch C.V. 53%min in China remain at RMB6,200-6,400/t (USD902-931/t) EXW, down by RMB50/t (USD7/t) from early this week for the weak demand. Prices might keep moving down in the coming two weeks because of the weak demand.
A prebaked anode producer in east China reported that they cut production by around 30% from the middle of last month and the consumption demand for coal tar pitch slipped accordingly. "We lately ordered around 500t of coal tar pitch C.V. 53%min at around RMB6,500/t (USD945/t) EXW one week ago," said the source, adding that they do not plan to place a new order this week and predict that prices would go down.
With the consumption capacity of 33,000tpy, they might use 1,500t in March, down from the normal level of around 2,200t, with present stocks at around 400t. They used over 20,000t in 2022 and close to 4,000t so far this year.
A prebaked anode producer from south China confirmed that they narrowed the coal tar pitch stocks from 1.5 months to around 1 month, as the price would slip. "We ordered around 2,000t of coal tar pitch C.V. 53%min early this month at around RMB6,400/t (USD931/t) EXW and have no plan to buy again this month despite the current offer of around RMB6,300/t (USD916/t) EXW," said the source, who predicted that prices would slip further for the weakening demand.
The consumer, with the consumption capacity of 30,000tpy, would use around 2,000t in March, similar to last month and holds around 2,000t in stock now down from around 3,000t one month ago. They consumed around 20,000t in 2022 and around 5,000t so far this year.
A prebaked anode producer in east China reported that they cut production by around 30% from the middle of last month and the consumption demand for coal tar pitch slipped accordingly. "We lately ordered around 500t of coal tar pitch C.V. 53%min at around RMB6,500/t (USD945/t) EXW one week ago," said the source, adding that they do not plan to place a new order this week and predict that prices would go down.
With the consumption capacity of 33,000tpy, they might use 1,500t in March, down from the normal level of around 2,200t, with present stocks at around 400t. They used over 20,000t in 2022 and close to 4,000t so far this year.
A prebaked anode producer from south China confirmed that they narrowed the coal tar pitch stocks from 1.5 months to around 1 month, as the price would slip. "We ordered around 2,000t of coal tar pitch C.V. 53%min early this month at around RMB6,400/t (USD931/t) EXW and have no plan to buy again this month despite the current offer of around RMB6,300/t (USD916/t) EXW," said the source, who predicted that prices would slip further for the weakening demand.
The consumer, with the consumption capacity of 30,000tpy, would use around 2,000t in March, similar to last month and holds around 2,000t in stock now down from around 3,000t one month ago. They consumed around 20,000t in 2022 and around 5,000t so far this year.
