Platts expands graphite coverage with launch of daily needle coke price assessments

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, has launched daily low-sulfur uncalcined needle coke spot price assessments on a DDP China basis, effective June 24. The new assessments reflect needle coke produced during the oil refining process.

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

The 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 assessments complement Platts' full suite of daily battery metals assessments. In addition to the DDP China assessment, Platts also publishes an import-parity calculation. The new assessments have the following specifications:

The import-parity price is 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 31, via a subscriber note available here. Following market feedback, Platts confirmed assessment specifications in a subscriber note published on June 14 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 are 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. For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.