Top Five Prebaked Anode Manufacturers in the World

Prebaked Carbon Anodes are a particular type of consumable electrodes (anodes) designed for aluminium smelting through the Hall-Héroult process. During the smelting process, these carbon anodes are suspended within the electrolysis cell(s) containing the electrolyte, which is primarily aluminium oxide (Al2O3). In the process, prebaked anode is consumed at a rate of approximately 450 kg of anode per tonne of liquid aluminium produced.

With the demand for aluminium rising across a wide cross-section of industries, prebaked anode prices have been trending high over the last three years. Talking about market, China has emerged as the global giant in the aluminium sector; and hence, one of the key driving forces for prebaked anode demand and prices. Shanghai Metals Market observed that prebaked anode prices in China’s domestic market have risen by about 620 yuan per tonne till January 2017.

SMM attributes the gain to following three factors:

1. Surging prices of petroleum coke and coal tar pitch- the main raw materials of prebaked anode. Crude oil and coking coal too made significant advances since November 2016.
2. China’s recent environmental protection activities in Henan and Shandong.
3. Tight supply in China domestic prebaked anode market since January 2017.

China is not only the biggest consumer but also one of the major manufacturing and supplier bases of prebaked anodes in the world. Companies like Guangxi Qiangqiang, Jinan Aohai, Jining Carbon, Dezhou Yongxing Carbon, and Jinan Wanfang Carbon are all based in China. Looking at the global map, following are the top five prebaked anode manufacturers in the world:

(Please note, the list below is dynamic, and may change under different market conditions).

1. Aluchemie (Netherlands)

The world’s largest stand-alone manufacturer of customized, high-grade anodes for the aluminium industry, Aluchemie is part of Rio Tinto, the world's leading aluminium producer. Aluchemie combines innovative technologies with half-a-century of experience and continuous training and resource development to come up with top industry-grade prebaked anodes. The company makes sure that it adheres to the sustainable method of prebaked anode manufacturing in order to stay in-demand and profitable in the long run.

Aluchemie has headquarters and production unit in Rotterdam, Netherlands, whether they have state-of-the-art production facilities with a capacity of 450,000 tonnes of prebaked anodes per annum.

2. Sunstone (China)

Sunstone Development Co., Ltd specializes in the production and marketing of prebaked carbon anodes both in China as well as throughout the rest of the world. The company thrives on innovation and continuous improvement of anode quality. In order to support its commitment to R&D activities, it has even opened an independent R&D centre in China.

Sunstone owns two prebaked anode manufacturing facilities: one in Shandong Province in east China and another in Gansu Province of northwest China. Sunstone has widened its reach globally as well. It has valued business partners in Asia, Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East.

3. Rheinfelden (Germany)

Rheinfelden CARBON under Aluminium Rheinfelden Group, Germany, claims to be the world’s first non-toxic electrode paste manufacturer in Europe. Although primarily focused on producing Soederberg and Electrode Paste (ELPA), Rheinfelden CARBON also makes prebaked anodes for aluminium smelters.

4. Carbonorca (Venezuela)

The state-owned manufacturer of prebaked anodes, V.G. Carbones del Orinoco C.A., alias Carbonorca of Venezuela is also the country’s most sought-after supplier to aluminium smelters such as CVG Alcasa and CVG-Venalum. The company owns a milling and compacting plant with a production capacity of 140,000 tonnes per annum green anode and three furnaces with 194,000 tonnes per annum of baked anode output. Prebaked carbon anodes produced by Carbonorca are sent to reduction plants around the world, including Canada, Egypt, the US, Nigeria, Russia and Tajikistan.

5. Rain CII, Lake Charles (USA)

Rain CII is a leading industrial carbon company in the U.S. With corporate offices in Texas and Connecticut, Rain CII reaches out to the biggest names in the world aluminium industry with its high-quality carbon products which include prebaked anodes. The company has six calciners across the U.S. and one manufacturing unit in Vishakhapatnam, India. All the plants are equipped with rotary kilns, green coke storage facilities, power generators with energy recovery units, and state-of-the-art production and quality control systems, where products are manufactured targeted for aluminium smelter anode applications.

Hydro, the global aluminium company with integrated operations across the aluminium value chain, opened a technology pilot for anode production in Årdal, Norway, back in 2014. The idea for the new prebaked anode production process was generated in 2009. The technology is right now being tested for a potential industrialization project later on.