[SMM Analysis: Q1 2025 Anode Raw Material Market Analysis and Anode Material Price Trend Analysis] SMM, March 19: Cost side, anode raw materials include petroleum coke and needle coke. Petroleum coke prices surged sharply after the Chinese New Year holiday. This rapid price increase was mainly due to tight petroleum coke supply and active restocking by downstream enterprises after the holiday. Needle coke prices rose primarily driven by high costs and restricted import volumes...

[SMM Analysis: Interpretation of Aluminum Industry Related to the "Guidance on Equipment Renewal and Technological Transformation in Key Industrial Sectors"] SMM News on September 26: In the recently released "Guidance", it is noteworthy that the elimination of pre-baked anode electrolysis cells below 200KA is mentioned. The guidance does not provide more detailed information on whether 200KA is included or not. For the time being, let's assume that 200KA electrolysis cells are included in the scope for demonstration. According to SMM data, the current domestic production capacity of electrolytic aluminum is approximately 45.37 million tons, of which the capacity of 200KA and below accounts for approximately...

[SMM Analysis: Downstream Purchasing Enthusiasm Has Increased, Petroleum Coke Prices Fluctuate Slightly with Overall Stability] Overall, there is still demand for petroleum coke downstream, and the rigid demand in the aluminum carbon market remains strong. With the clarity of downstream pre-baked anode prices, the enthusiasm of carbon enterprises for procurement has increased...

During his visit to Bratsk, the Governor of Irkutsk Oblast Igor Kobzev, accompanied by Mayor Sergei Serebrennikov, inspected the construction site of the new aluminum smelter in Bratsk. Evgeny Zenkin, General Manager of the aluminum smelter, reported to the delegation on the progress of the technological renovation project. Two new workshops, each approximately 1.5 kilometers long, will be built here to replace the outdated workshops constructed more than half a century ago. The new aluminum plant will adopt pre-baked anode technology, significantly reducing its environmental burden. Fluoride emissions from the new facility will be reduced by a factor of 10, and emissions of benzo(a)pyrene into the atmosphere will be completely eliminated. The new electrolytic workshops being constructed will be equipped with the most advanced RA-550 electrolyzers independently developed by RUSAL. These electrolyzers not only surpass previous generations in performance and efficiency but also excel in environmental protection.

[SMM Analysis: Prices of Pre-Baked Anodes Continue to Decline in August, Corporate Profitability Remains Unpromising] During the period, an electrolytic aluminum enterprise in Shandong announced the benchmark price for its August 2024 pre-baked anode tender, which was down 89 yuan/ton from the previous month. Concurrently, a major domestic pre-baked anode sales company also announced its August sales price for pre-baked anodes, which was down 98 yuan/ton from the previous month. In August, the price of pre-baked anodes slightly declined due to the weak support from raw materials such as petroleum coke and coal pitch. The market price of petroleum coke adjusted amidst fluctuations...

In February (February 8 - March 11), the prices of prebaked anodes were generally stable.

During the week ending October 19, aluminium spot full cost in China rose slightly to around 16,198 yuan/mt, up 46 yuan/mt WoW.