- Graphite anode prices showed a firm trend in Q1’26 as battery material demand and supply-chain risks supported the market across major regions.
- Feedstock support came from petroleum coke demand, energy-route disruption, and freight pressure after the Strait of Hormuz closure.
- Downstream demand remained supported by battery anode manufacturers, with steady procurement from lithium-ion battery and EV supply chains.
Graphite anode prices remained firm during Q1’26, mainly due to upstream petroleum coke support, active battery-grade anode procurement, and higher logistics risks. In Asia, China remained the key market driver as anode material producers maintained sufficient orders and continued fresh procurement, keeping demand for low and medium sulfur petroleum coke stable. China’s petroleum coke production in March reached around 2.68 million tons, down ~2.23% year-on-year but up ~5.63% month-on-month, while major port inventories stayed near 4.23 million tons, indicating steady feedstock movement. In North America, supply risk stayed high because U.S. graphite battery anode material imports reached 43,400 tons during the first eight months of 2025, compared with 28,100 tons a year earlier, with China supplying 55%, Indonesia 31%, and South Korea 14%. Europe also faced supply dependence, as China accounted for an estimated 82% of global natural graphite output and exported 37,400 tons of spherical purified graphite, up ~29% year-on-year.
Analyst Insight
According to Procurement Resource, Graphite anode prices may stay firm in the near term if petroleum coke demand, battery procurement, and freight risks remain elevated.