Tokai Carbon Raises Electrode Pole Price by 24% in January

Japanese major electric pole maker, Tokai Carbon raises the selling price of graphite electrode for electric furnace by around 24% or 100,000 yen per tonne for domestic market for the contract after the shipping in January 2008 due to the expansion of the electrode demand in the world and increased needle coke price which is material. The selling price increases to 520,000 yen per tonne for the size with 24 inch diameter, which achieves 500,000 yen since 1986.The firm increased the selling price to 420,000 yen per tonne compared to spring. Overseas makers are starting to get orders at US$ 5,200-5,400 per tonne when the demand in Europe or Asia is increasing. Tokai Carbon will correct the selling price which is cheaper than international price level.The selling price increased by bout twice for 5 years from the bottom which was 270,000 yen per tonne in fiscal 2002 at the ended of March 2003. Makers’ production cost is rising when needle coke price increased due to rising oil price.The firm raises the selling price by 100,000 yen to international price level, and will pass increased material price to selling price.