5 Top Graphite News Stories of 2017

Graphite had a bit of a bumpy start to the year, but has rebounded on the back of lower supply. All in all, graphite has had a solid year, but has yet to really take off as some investors are speculating.

Many market watchers, such as Thom Calandra of the Calandra Report, anticipate graphite stocks spiking as electric vehicles gain popularity. While there’s much infrastructure to be built and no clear timeline on when it will be in place, many believe graphite’s day will come.

In the meantime, we’ve assembled our most popular graphite news stories of 2017. Read on to find out which articles received the most attention from readers throughout the year. 

1. Graphite Electrode Shortage Pumps Up Prices

Our most popular graphite news story of the year looks at how Hurricane Harvey and China’s environmental policies have affected graphite electrode prices. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, refineries shut down along the coast of Texas, also affecting needle coke supply.

This domino effect made an impact across the pond in Europe, where European steelmaking uses 226,000 MT of graphite electrodes each year. Read on to find out more details in this piece.

2. Thom Calandra: Lithium, Graphite and Uranium Stocks

In this October video interview, we spoke with Thom Calandra of the Calandra Report. He touched on graphite and said that he only owns one lithium stock. “The way I’m playing the rechargeables right now is graphite,” he explained. Calandra added that he has made a large investment in one small graphite company in Quebec named Nouveau Monde Mining Enterprises (TSXV:NOU).

He also recommended two other graphite stocks that he believes are worth a look. Which ones are they? Watch the video below to find out.

3. Graphite Prices Heating Up After Rough Start to Year

Early in 2017, graphite prices went downhill after China dropped its export tax on flake graphite. The decision meant that producers could afford to export their product for up to 20 percent less than before.

However, by the time this August article was published, mine closures in China had driven graphite prices back up. Mine closures in Madagascar also played a role in the price increase. Read the article to find out what other factors were supporting graphite midway through the year, and learn what Andrew Miller of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence believes the future has in store for the commodity.

4. Battery Demand Beginning to Boost Graphite Prices

In our next most popular graphite news story of 2017, we looked at a report from Roskill on how the future of graphite may be determined by lithium-ion battery manufacturers. The firm believes that demand from the battery space will largely be satisfied by China.

But how will other producers stay afloat? Roskill thinks producers will have the ability to “increase spherical graphite production rates and draw down raw material stocks.” This story also includes a round-up of significant news released by graphite-focused companies in October. 

5. Graphite Companies Respond to Tanzania’s Mining Laws

Our last graphite news story delves into Tanzanian mining legislation and what it could mean for the industry. In the summer, the country set up new laws that give the government more control over mines. These laws permit the government to hold a 16- to 50-percent stake in Tanzanian mining projects.

They also empower the government to renegotiate or throw out contracts on natural resources and raise export royalties on gold, silver, platinum and copper. What did domestic graphite firms think about this news? And how might they be affected? Read the article to find out.

What graphite news stories did you follow this year? Leave your mark in the comments below.

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Securities Disclosure: I, Amanda Kay, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.