On April 21, Cabot (China) announced that it would increase the price of all rubber Carbon Black sold by the company by 800 yuan per ton from May 1. After the news, the price rising sentiment accumulated in the domestic carbon black market broke out, and the mainstream carbon black manufacturers raised their prices by 600 yuan.
In terms of cost, since January, the price of coal tar, the raw material of carbon black, has continued to rise at a high level. Especially in late March, the impact of the epidemic has expanded, the cost of logistics and transportation has risen, the cost pressure of carbon black manufacturers has increased, and the rise of raw materials, logistics and transportation has seriously swallowed up the profits brought by the rise of carbon black price. Carbon black enterprises are generally facing greater cost pressure.
In terms of supply and demand, the rubber products industry took the lead in recovering after the Spring Festival; After February 20, the tire industry gradually recovered, and the overstocked inventory of carbon black manufacturers in the Spring Festival was quickly digested. After the Winter Olympics ended in March, with the expansion of epidemic factors, the operating load of carbon black industry was low, which continued to remain at about 6-70%. In addition, the overall low inventory of carbon black enterprises began to tighten the market supply. Under the support of strong tire demand, the supply and demand situation of domestic carbon black market has changed rapidly. Factors such as epidemic control, logistics and transportation, increase of export orders and maintenance of mainstream carbon black enterprises have come one after another in the later stage, and the supply of domestic carbon black market has continued to be tight.
External influence: at present, there are many external influencing factors in the market. Firstly, domestic epidemic factors have a great impact on logistics and transportation. Recently, although relevant national departments have coordinated and issued supporting policies, the market feedback on logistics and transportation is still difficult. Secondly, internationally, affected by the Russian Ukrainian war, the price of carbon black in Europe soared. According to the market feedback, the spot CIF price of carbon black in Europe has exceeded 15000 yuan / ton. In addition, the recent interest rate fluctuations have led to favorable exports of carbon black and tires.
To sum up, the current domestic carbon black production cost is high, the downstream demand is supported, the continuation of logistics and transportation is blocked, and the influence of external factors is superimposed. The carbon black manufacturers have a firm attitude towards price increase.
