The utilization rate of graphite electrode production capacity increased slightly in the first quarter, but the overall extent was limited, and there was no significant improvement due to the increase in downstream arc furnace operation. The average production capacity utilization rate of the electrode market in the first quarter was 29.39%, an increase of 3.6 percentage points compared to the fourth quarter. On the one hand, electrode manufacturers should prioritize digesting early inventory, and on the other hand, poor production profits make it difficult to boost manufacturers' enthusiasm for starting work.
The profit of graphite electrode production slightly rebounded in the first quarter, but overall it is still at the breakeven level. The gross profit of graphite electrode ultra-high power production in the first quarter was RMB36.8/t.
