Carbon Additive · Anode & Recarburizer Grades

Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC)

煅烧石油焦 · Aluminium anode-grade and steel recarburizer-grade

Calcined petroleum coke for primary aluminium smelters and steel recarburizing. Two distinct product lines: anode-grade for pre-baked anodes, and low-sulphur recarburizer-grade for EAF and foundry use. Lot-traceable COA, SGS pre-shipment inspection.

At a Glance

Fixed Carbon 98–99%
Sulphur (anode-grade) ≤ 1.5%
Sulphur (recarburizer) ≤ 0.5%
Sizes 0–25mm · 1–5mm · 3–8mm
FOB China $450–650 / MT
Min. Order 20 MT (trial)

Product Overview

Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC) is petroleum-refinery green coke that has been heat-treated at 1200–1400°C in a rotary kiln or rotary hearth furnace. Calcination drives off volatile hydrocarbons and moisture, leaving a hard, dense, electrically conductive carbon material with fixed carbon content of 98–99%.

Roughly 75% of global CPC output goes into aluminium anode production — making CPC one of the largest-volume carbon products traded globally. The remainder serves steelmaking recarburizing, titanium dioxide pigment production, and speciality carbon applications.

Global Vista supplies CPC sourced from qualified Chinese calcination plants — backed by 245 confirmed shipments totalling 76,998 MT (2022–2024), with customers including leading German metallurgical traders, primary aluminium smelters in Asia, and recarburizer buyers across Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. We carry both anode-grade (low metal impurities, controlled VBD, 0–25mm range) and recarburizer-grade (low sulphur ≤ 0.5%, 0.5–5mm standard) — see how to choose between them in our GPC vs CPC comparison guide, or learn more about the parent material in our What is Petroleum Coke? technical primer.

Technical Specifications

Parameter Anode-Grade Recarburizer-Grade
Fixed Carbon (F.C.)≥ 98.5%≥ 98.5%
Sulphur (S)≤ 1.5%≤ 0.5%
Volatile Matter (V.M.)≤ 0.7%≤ 0.75%
Ash≤ 0.4%≤ 0.75%
Moisture≤ 0.3%≤ 0.5%
Nitrogen (N)≤ 0.6%0.7–1.2%
Real Density2.05–2.10 g/cm³2.05–2.10 g/cm³
Vibrated Bulk Density (VBD)0.88–0.95 g/cm³
Vanadium (V)≤ 350 ppm
Nickel (Ni)≤ 200 ppm
Iron (Fe)≤ 250 ppm
Silicon (Si)≤ 200 ppm
Carbon StructureAmorphousAmorphous
Heat Treatment1200–1400 °C1200–1400 °C

* Values are guaranteed maximums/minimums. Anode-grade includes additional metal impurity controls (V, Ni, Fe, Si, Ca) required by aluminium smelter buyers. COA delivered with every shipment.

Available Grades & Sizes

Anode-Grade For Aluminium Smelters

CPC 0–25mm Anode

Standard anode-grade lump

Whole-particle CPC for pre-baked anode mix. Crushed and screened on-site at the anode plant.

For: primary aluminium smelters

CPC 0–50mm Coarse Anode

Bulk anode feedstock

Coarser feed for smelters with their own crushing line. Lower cost per tonne due to reduced sieving.

For: integrated anode plants

Recarburizer-Grade For Steel & Foundry

0.2–1mm

Fine recarburizer

Ladle injection and late-trim carbon addition.

For: foundries, ladle

1–5mm

Standard recarburizer

EAF charging for non-critical grades (rebar, merchant bar).

For: EAF mills

3–8mm

Coarse recarburizer

Cupola furnaces and blast furnace carbon addition.

For: cupola

Choosing between CPC and GPC? CPC is roughly 30–40% cheaper per tonne but has higher sulphur and lower absorption rate. For low-sulphur steel grades and ductile iron, GPC is the better choice. Our GPC vs CPC technical comparison walks through the cost-benefit decision in detail.

Applications

Aluminium Anode Production

Primary feedstock for pre-baked carbon anodes used in Hall-Héroult aluminium smelting. Anode-grade CPC accounts for ~75% of global CPC consumption.

Required spec: S ≤ 1.5%, V ≤ 350 ppm, controlled VBD

Steel Recarburizing

EAF and ladle carbon addition for non-critical steel grades (rebar, merchant bar, structural sections). Low-sulphur recarburizer-grade.

Absorption rate: 75–85% in EAF

Foundry Recarburizing

Cost-effective carbon source for grey iron and non-critical foundry castings where sulphur sensitivity is moderate.

Note: For ductile iron, use GPC instead

Titanium Dioxide Production

Carbon reductant in the chloride process for TiO₂ pigment manufacturing.

Spec: Low Fe, controlled metal impurities

Carbon Brushes & Electrodes

Used as a component in carbon brushes, speciality electrodes, and electrolytic cell linings.

Speciality Carbon Products

Used in friction materials, carbon paste, and as a feedstock for further graphitization to produce GPC.

Quality Assurance

  • Mill Test Certificate (COA)

    Lot-traceable analysis: F.C., S, V.M., ash, moisture, density. Anode-grade includes metals (V, Ni, Fe, Si, Ca).

  • Third-Party Inspection

    SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or CIQ pre-shipment inspection at port of origin.

  • Anode-Grade Sample Pre-Approval

    10–50 kg sample to your anode plant for lab and pilot mix validation before bulk order.

  • Country of Origin Certificate

    Issued by CCPIT or local trade authority.

Logistics

  • Origin Ports

    Tianjin · Qingdao · Lianyungang · Shanghai

  • Packaging

    Bulk in vessel hold, 25kg PP bags, or 1MT jumbo bags. Anode-grade typically shipped bulk in handysize/supramax vessels.

  • Incoterms

    FOB, CIF, CFR, DAP available.

  • Payment Terms

    T/T 30/70 or irrevocable L/C at sight. USD / EUR / JPY settlement.

  • Lead Time

    15–30 days from order confirmation (vessel-dependent for bulk orders).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CPC and GPC?

CPC is calcined at 1200–1400°C while GPC is further graphitized at 2500–3000°C. CPC has sulphur 0.5–3% versus GPC ≤ 0.05%, and absorption rate in molten steel is 75–85% versus 90–95% for GPC. CPC is significantly cheaper per tonne. Read the full comparison.

What is anode-grade CPC?

Anode-grade CPC is the specific grade for manufacturing pre-baked carbon anodes used in primary aluminium smelters. Requires low sulphur (≤ 1.5%), low metal impurities (V, Ni, Fe, Si, Ca), and specific Vibrated Bulk Density (VBD) targets.

Can CPC be used as a recarburizer for steel?

Yes — recarburizer-grade CPC (S ≤ 0.5%) is widely used in EAF steelmaking and foundry recarburizing for non-critical steel grades like rebar and merchant bar. For low-sulphur grades (auto, structural, alloy steel) and ductile iron, GPC is the better choice.

What is the minimum order quantity?

Trial orders from 20 MT (one 20ft container) for recarburizer-grade. For anode-grade bulk shipments, minimum is typically 500–2000 MT per vessel.

What is the price difference between CPC and GPC?

CPC is typically 30–45% cheaper per tonne. CPC FOB China is around $450–650/MT versus GPC $750–950/MT. However, cost-per-tonne-of-carbon-added often favors GPC due to higher absorption rate and the elimination of downstream sulphur penalty in finished steel.

Do you supply low-sulphur CPC?

Yes — our recarburizer-grade CPC has S ≤ 0.5%. Premium low-sulphur grades with S ≤ 0.3% are available on request from select Chinese plants using sweet-crude feedstock.

Can you supply CPC samples for anode plant qualification?

Yes — 10–50 kg samples shipped to your anode plant for pilot-mix validation. Sample is typically free for serious enquiries with a target purchase volume of 1000+ MT/month.

Request a Quote

Specify anode-grade or recarburizer-grade, your quantity and destination port — we respond within one business day.

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