Carbon Black Daily: Upstream Holds Firm, Downstream Demand-Driven with Limited Transactions
01 Carbon Black Index
According to Tuoduduo data, the Carbon Black Price Index on August 25 was 7,859, remaining stable compared to the previous trading day.
02 Carbon Black Market Price
03 Carbon Black Market Impact Analysis
1. Upstream Raw Materials
Coal tar prices in Shandong: 4,340 RMB/ton; Shanxi: 4,520 RMB/ton; Hebei: 4,500 RMB/ton. The domestic high-temperature coal tar market maintains a firm and cautious outlook. The supply-demand tightness is difficult to ease in the short term. Driven by continued favorable factors, the market is expected to maintain an upward trend in the near term.
2. Carbon Black Supply
Operating rates at sample enterprises in the domestic carbon black market have increased. Some major manufacturers have raised production loads to fulfill orders. With no newly scheduled maintenance plants in the near term and Shandong-based producers still undergoing maintenance, overall market operating rates are showing an upward trend. Given the significant recent price increases in the carbon black market, industry participants show growing enthusiasm for production.
3. Downstream Demand
According to reports, all-steel tire producers currently undergoing maintenance are in the production recovery phase, which will provide some support for a recovery in overall supply. However, overall shipment performance falls short of expectations, with slow destocking of finished products and some enterprises still showing growing inventory levels. Under production and sales pressure, some companies may still face expectations of production cuts or maintenance by month-end.
04 Market Outlook
As of now, cost support remains the dominant logic in the current carbon black market. High-temperature coal tar prices have room for further upward movement, providing strong support for new carbon black quotations. Coupled with the fermenting expectation of continued raw material price increases, carbon black producers have strong confidence in holding prices firm, and new order negotiations maintain a firm stance. However, demand-side performance is relatively subdued, with downstream tire enterprises mostly maintaining demand-driven procurement. Resistance to high prices persists, and actual transaction volumes remain limited. The carbon black market is expected to continue its high-level consolidation pattern in the short term.
