In the first half of February, driven by the decline in industrial alumina prices, the benchmark prices of sintered corundum and white fused alumina fell rapidly. The benchmark prices of heavy-burned and mid-grade magnesia dropped alongside lower coal prices, while silicon carbide prices rose. Prices of other bulk raw materials remained stable.

【Corundum】

Sharp declines in benchmark prices for sintered corundum and white fused alumina; brown fused alumina market remains firm.

Under the influence of a significant drop in industrial alumina prices, the benchmark prices of sintered corundum and white fused alumina were also adjusted downward.

Although industrial alumina prices continue to decline, the rate of decrease has narrowed significantly. Currently, as alumina prices remain on a downward trajectory, most corundum producers are maintaining low operating rates to mitigate operational risks.

Despite the sharp price drops for white fused alumina and sintered corundum, bauxite prices remain elevated. Consequently, brown fused alumina benchmark prices hold firm due to high-cost support.

【Bauxite】

Difficulty in raising bauxite prices.

Bauxite producers replenished higher-priced ore inventories in January, providing cost support for bauxite. However, as mining operations gradually resume in Shanxi’s bauxite regions and imported bauxite continues to enter the market, demand shows no signs of recovery, making price increases for bauxite challenging.

【Flake Graphite】

Flake graphite market stabilizes temporarily.

Most flake graphite enterprises in Northeast China have yet to resume production, resulting in sluggish market activity and stable prices. Production is expected to gradually restart after March. To ensure product quality, a Shandong-based company has imported flake graphite for both internal use and external market supply.

【Magnesia】 

Prices of fused magnesia and high-purity magnesia stabilize; heavy-burned and mid-grade magnesia prices decline.

Magnesia enterprises in Liaoning have resumed operations. Due to lower energy costs, prices for heavy-burned and mid-grade magnesia have been reduced. Benchmark prices for fused magnesia and high-purity magnesia, already adjusted earlier, remain unchanged. The fused magnesia market is now in a wait-and-see mode due to rising graphite electrode prices and upcoming adjustments to electricity billing methods in March.

【Silicon Carbide】

Silicon carbide prices rise.

Recently, silicon carbide enterprises have resumed production, leading to higher capacity utilization rates. However, tight supply and continuously rising prices of petroleum coke have driven up smelting costs. Under mounting cost pressures, silicon carbide producers have successively raised product prices.