Platts to expand graphite coverage with launch of daily needle coke price assessments

Following market feedback, Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, will publish daily low-sulfur uncalcined needle coke spot price assessments on a DDP China basis, effective June 24.

The new assessments will reflect needle coke produced during the oil refining process.

Based on latest industry statistics, more than 60% of the world's graphite supply comes from synthetic graphite, with needle coke a key feedstock. Synthetic graphite is used to produce spherical graphite, a crucial component of battery anodes.

The upcoming launch follows the March 2024 addition of natural flake graphite and spherical graphite assessments and aims to bring more transparency in the graphite space.

The new needle coke assessment s will complement Platts full suite of daily battery metals assessments.

In addition to the DDP China assessment, Platts will also publish an import-parity calculation. The new assessments will have the following specifications:

The import-parity price will be calculated by subtracting port charges and logistics costs, Chinese value-added taxes and factoring in the Yuan to Dollar exchange rate from the assessed needle coke DDP China price. Chinese VAT is currently at 13%.

The first monthly average calculations will be updated July 31, reflecting the average of daily assessments published throughout July.

Platts first proposed to launch these price assessments May 13, via a subscriber note available here .

Platts spot price assessments consider market information reported to Platts and published throughout the day, including firm bids and offers, transactions and indications, as well as any other data deemed relevant to the assessment process. Market information received before the 4:30 pm Singapore (0830 GMT) timestamp will be considered for the daily needle coke assessments.

A full description of Platts assessments methodology can be found here .

The assessments will be published on Platts Connect, Platts Market Center, Platts Metals Daily, Platts Nonferrous Metals Alert and in the Platts price database.

Please send all comments and questions to battery_metals@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.

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