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Petroleum coke is also used for the production of graphite electrodes (Table 6.1.2.5 and Figure 6.1.2.10). The quantity employed for this purpose has been stagnant for several years up to 2005. This high‐grade quality calcinate is called needle coke. Although the proportion of electrosteel production in overall steel production is steadily increasing, a series of optimizing steps have continuously reduced the electrode consumption per ton of steel. Whereas in 1985, 7 kg electrode material was needed per ton of steel, modern furnaces can manage with less than 2 kg/t. For this reason the consumption of electrodes worldwide was stagnated around 1.100.000 t/a in 2005. By using all process improvements, the needle coke demand has only marginally increased with the growing of electrosteel production. The demand of needle coke in 2014 is 1.5 × 10⁶ t/a [34–37].

Needle coke qualities are used as part components for cathode blocks, sidewall blocks, and ramming pastes for the production of aluminum. A further application of this quality coke is in steel carburization.

A series of special industrial uses of carbon material, which are negligible in terms of quantity, utilize the thermal and chemical resistance, the thermal and electrical conductivity, and graphitization of petroleum coke. The amount required for this purpose is normally covered by carbon dust separated during the production of carbon anodes and electrodes.