Battery-grade Graphite Production Could Hit Record in 2015

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reported that battery-grade graphite is set for a record year of production. The firm notes that China’s output of uncoated spherical graphite, which is used to make lithium-ion battery anodes, has been on the rise since 2013.

As quoted in the market news:

Data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence shows that the first five months of 2015 are tracking ahead of the same period last year. If demand holds for the remainder of the year, exports of spherical graphite from China will comfortably exceed 30,000 tpa.

If China’s domestic consumption of battery grade graphite is taken into account, the industry could be heading towards a production level of 40,000 tpa which translates to 90-100,000 tpa of medium flake graphite concentrate (-100 mesh, 94-95% C).

China – a strong barometer for the fortunes of the industry – began significantly exporting spherical graphite in 2009 with a total 7,000 tonnes of material destined for Japan and South Korea. Each year since, exports have surged with a 27% CAGR from 2009 to 2014 – only declining once, by 9% in 2012.

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