Sluggish demand for China’s graphite flake fines in both the batteries’ anode and refractories sectors has led to ongoing output cuts among flake miners and processors, which has further tightened the supply of large flake graphite in China, sources told Fastmarkets.

Northern Graphite and Rain Carbon have partnered to produce natural graphite-based battery anode material (BAM) for lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), with commercial availability expected by 2027, Northern Graphite CEO Hugues Jacquemin told Fastmarkets.

Read Fastmarkets' monthly battery raw materials market update for October 2024, focusing on raw materials including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and more

From the Lithium Valley Initiative to corporate investments, Brazil is investing in its critical minerals sector in response to shifting global market dynamics triggered by China's export controls.

Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the methodology for its audited non-ferrous price assessments and indices, as part of its announced annual methodology review process.

Read how Fastmarkets is introducing a regional graphite price benchmark for the US

Fastmarkets will launch a monthly price assessment for graphite flake 94% C, -100 mesh, cif US ports, $/tonne on Thursday October 3.

Delays in US policy support for its domestic anode supply chain have made investment decisions harder, even as expectations for a medium-term supply shortage persist, Shaun Verner, chief executive officer of Australia-listed Syrah Resources, told Fastmarkets in an interview in August

Read Fastmarkets' monthly battery raw materials market update for September 2024, focusing on raw materials including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and more

Fastmarkets proposes to launch a price assessment for graphite flake 94% C, -100 mesh, cif US ports, $/tonne.