Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Launches Benchmark Data Service

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence announced the launch of a new graphite price and data subscription service called Benchmark Data. Its goal is to allow customers to track graphite supply, demand and prices, all of which are generally difficult to attain information on.

Here’s an excerpt from the first issue of Benchmark Data:

Supply outlook:

Flake graphite production is set to increase moving into June, however continued pressures within the Chinese market look set to cause output to again fall below 2014 levels.

Production in Hubei province, China is set to begin again with Hengda Graphite confident that problems with their tailings pond have now been resolved.Output from Shandong province is likely to remain at low levels, however, with regional authorities in Laixi county signalling that they will prevent production restarts until environmental concerns in the area are addressed.

Elsewhere, output is expected to reach peak levels over the coming months, with stead youtput growth expected from projects in Europe, Africa and South America.Spherical graphite output is also due to increase moving into June, with Chinese suppliersset to increase stock in preparation for increased demand in H2.

Demand outlook:

Graphite consumption is expected to increase as the market moves into the seasonal peak in demand.

Although industrial markets continue to be constrained by slower construction and automotive growth in developing nations, global industrial growth remains stable.

Many consumers will seek to boost inventories ahead of the summer, which will see greater sales in June.

Indian demand also continues to exhibit positive signs of growth moving towards the endof Q2 and is likely to increase over the summer season. So too, will domestic consumption within China, which will be boosted by increased industrial activity.

Spherical graphite demand from Japan and South Korea based consumers will escalate as battery expansions continue, particularly in the utility storage sector which is likely to see significant growth in H2 2015 and H1 2016.

Click here to view or download the first issue of Benchmark Data.