#Platts: #Graphite electrode shortage could last five years plus

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

The #Graphite electrode shortage could last five years or more, investment bank Jefferies said in a report after spending time with management of #Japanese producer #TokaiCarbon.

Jefferies said 10% of needle coke output is now being directed to the #Lithium-ion sector and anode material production requires the same facilities as graphite electrode production. It also said Hurricane Harvey had taken some needle coke capacity offline.

The natural growth in electric arc furnace-based output at the expense of blast furnace production, led by a drive to reduce pollution, would trigger stronger demand for electrodes, Jefferies said.