(1) Long production cycle. The production cycle for standard‑power graphite electrodes is approximately 45 days, while that for ultra‑high‑power graphite electrodes exceeds 70 days; moreover, the production cycle for graphite electrode joints requiring multiple impregnation processes is even longer.

(2) High energy consumption. Producing 1 ton of standard‑grade graphite electrodes requires approximately 6,000 kWh of electricity, several thousand cubic meters of coal gas or natural gas, and about 1 ton of metallurgical coke lumps and pulverized metallurgical coke.

(3) The production process is complex, involving numerous steps such as raw material calcination, crushing and grinding, batching, kneading, forming, firing, impregnation, graphitization, and mechanical machining. This manufacturing process requires a wide array of specialized machinery and kilns with unique structural designs, resulting in substantial capital investment and a relatively long payback period.

(4) The production process generates a certain amount of dust and harmful gases, necessitating comprehensive environmental protection measures for ventilation to control dust and eliminate hazardous emissions.

(5) The carbonaceous raw materials required for production, such as petroleum coke and coal tar pitch, are by‑products of refining and coal‑chemical processes. Consequently, the quality and stability of these feedstocks are difficult to fully ensure—particularly for needle coke used in the manufacture of high‑power and ultra‑high‑power graphite electrodes, modified electrode pitch, and specialized impregnation pitch with low quinoline‑insoluble content. These issues urgently call for greater attention and active cooperation from China’s petroleum and coal‑chemical industries.