The surge in stock prices followed Japan’s cabinet decision to impose a 95.2% anti-dumping duty on graphite electrode exports from China for four months as a provisional measure, effective March 29.
This decision came after a government probe, which, in its interim report last month, concluded that China was exporting graphite electrodes—an essential industrial material used in electric arc furnace steelmaking—at unfairly low prices, causing harm to Japanese companies.
Is this an opportunity for Indian companies?
Japan’s total graphite electrode market is approximately 60,000 tonnes, with 25% of its demand currently met by China.
With prices expected to rise from April 1, 2025, Chinese producers have already increased prices for High Power (HP) Grade graphite electrodes.
As a result, domestic HP-grade graphite electrode prices could see a 7% increase.
