Metals Industry Trends

For those of us closely following the critical minerals ecosystem, the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 distils the key trends that we have witnessed firsthand: growing concentration in supply chains is now a grave concern, making diversification the watchword for energy security.   Despite the surge of lithium demand to nearly 30% in 2024, the findings reflect a price drop by 80% since 2023, driven largely by increased output from dominant producers. Such price volatility masks a deeper vulnerability by 2035, excluding the top producers, global supply would meet only half the projected demand. Any disruption, be it geopolitical, climatic, or technical can trigger severe supply shocks.   This holds particularly true for graphite, the unsung backbone of the EV battery revolution. While its demand grew by 6–8% last year, with the energy sector now accounting for the lion’s share, over 70% of graphite refining remains concentrated in China. This has raised serious concerns about downstream capacity built-up and its role.   Long recognizing these structural risks, Epsilon Advanced Materials Pvt. Ltd. has focused on building integrated facilities across India, North America, and Europe to cater to the entire value chain. This strategy has enhanced our control over supply and quality, while also reduces exposure to global chokepoints.   I believe that building a resilient and diversified supply chain is not only feasible, but imperative. When we step back and see the forest for the trees, it becomes clear: true energy transition rests on secure access to materials like graphite and a long-term vision can help us achieve this, at scale.   Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/dT5mbhT6   #CriticalMinerals #Graphite #BatteryMaterials #EnergySecurity #SupplyChain #Epsilon #EVTransition #Clean #Energy

The U.S. just took a big step to break China’s hold on battery-grade graphite: ~90% anti-dumping duties on Chinese graphite. I'm very happy to see it. I don’t talk much about graphite, and that’s because it’s been one of the hardest parts of the battery chain to secure or compete with China on. China controls about 98% of anode-grade processing. Without graphite, there are no batteries (ex-newer technologies like silicon anodes). New tariffs bring the effective rate on Chinese graphite close to 160%. This increase means EVs may cost around $200 more per car (negligible when considering total cost of the vehicle), but the strategic implications could be significant. Investors clearly noticed: Syrah Resources Ltd jumped over 20%, Nouveau Monde Graphite | NYSE: NMG + TSX: NOU gained around 25%, NOVONIX about 15%, Posco Future rose more than 20%. Questions of course remain. Will tariffs alone (post-30D repeal) be enough to convince investors to take long-term positions? Will they believe these rates will hold across administrations so that they can underwrite 30+ year mine and processing investments on that basis? Will this anti-dumping tariff apply to Chinese subsidiary operations like those in Indonesia? We cannot build a serious U.S. battery industry if our anodes stay almost entirely dependent on China. This move starts to change that, but staying power will matter more than the headline. #graphite #batterysupplychain #criticalminerals #energysecurity https://lnkd.in/gPEMKQGe

Confronting China’s grip on graphite for batteries China controls more than 95% of the global supply of battery-grade graphite, which is the largest component by weight in lithium-ion batteries. This creates a significant vulnerability for U.S. economic and national security, as graphite is essential for electric vehicle batteries, consumer electronics, defense applications like drones, grid-scale energy storage systems, and steel-making. Stanford Energy's STEER initiative has been working with over 150 industry experts to develop potential solutions through two major convening in Washington DC (September 2024 and May 2025), in work led by Karan Bhuwalka, Adrian Yao, Sally Benson and colleagues. Key insight from Stanford's quantitative techno-economic analysis: ✅ High estimated U.S. costs, more than twice that of China, stem from elevated capital expenditures and lack of secondary markets for manufacturing byproducts that help Chinese producers offset expenses Potential answers: ✅ Execute offtake contracts with price floors to reduce investor risk ✅ Leverage abundant carbon feedstocks in the United States (such as natural gas and biomass) to produce high-quality graphite ✅ Shorten the timeline necessary to qualify graphite produced in new factories ✅ Develop coherent testing standards and performance characteristics that can confidently map graphite's physical properties to long-term battery performance See article in Comments

Graphite is Quiet No More. A silent war is unfolding not with weapons, but with materials. Just this week: 🇺🇸 The U.S. raised tariffs on Chinese graphite up to 721%, marking a decisive move to de-risk supply chains. 🇨🇦 Focus Graphite nears production after 16 years, offering battery-grade supply for aerospace markets. 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan joined the European Carbon and Graphite Association, bringing Central Asia closer to the EU’s industrial future. 🇹🇿 Magnis Energy doubles down on Tanzania, despite political and financial turbulence. 🇺🇸 Graphite One eyes 50,000 t/y production by 2028 a U.S.-based supply chain is no longer a dream. 🇲🇬 NextSource Materials pivots to the Middle East, seeking scale, proximity, and sovereign backing. 🇨🇦 Northern Graphite’s projects in France and Namibia gain “Strategic Project” status from the EU. Every headline tells the same story: Graphite is no longer just an industrial material. It’s a geopolitical lever, a national security asset, and a strategic entry point into the future of energy. We’re witnessing a shift: From extraction → to control From trade → to policy From tons → to trust The world isn’t asking if graphite is important anymore. The question now is: Who controls it? Because whoever does holds the key to EVs, AI, clean energy, and defense. #Graphite #CriticalMinerals #EnergySecurity #Geopolitics #EVrevolution #BatterySupplyChain #MiningMatters #TemuujinGankhuyag

For the foreseeable future, synthetic graphite anode material will likely maintain its dominant position in high-performance applications like electric vehicles due to its superior cycle life, while natural graphite anode material will continue to be valued for its higher capacity and lower cost in consumer electronics applications. Synthetic graphite anode material is produced from petroleum coke or needle coke through a more complex process involving crushing, granulation, carbonisation, and graphitisation. The graphitisation process, conducted at extremely high temperatures (2,500-3,000°C), transforms amorphous carbon into a highly ordered crystalline structure. This energy-intensive process significantly impacts production costs but creates a material with superior electrochemical stability. High-end synthetic graphite anodes typically use needle coke as the raw material due to its "low sulfur content, low ash content, low metal content, and easy graphitisation," while lower-end products use cheaper petroleum coke. Synthetic graphite generally demonstrates better first cycle efficiency (90-96%) when compared to natural graphite (90-93%). This efficiency metric is crucial as it directly impacts the usable capacity of lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, synthetic graphite offers better compatibility with electrolytes and superior performance in high-rate applications. The particle size distribution and surface characteristics of synthetic graphite can be more precisely controlled during manufacturing, contributing to its more consistent electrochemical behaviour. Surface modification technologies are employed for both synthetic graphite and natural graphite anode materials to improve performance. These include mechanical ball milling, surface oxidation, halogenation treatment, surface coating, and element doping. Such modifications enhance the efficiency of lithium-ion storage and release while improving cycle stability by changing the surface structure, morphology, and chemical properties of the graphite anode materials. It should be noted, the industry is also exploring silicon-carbon composite anodes to significantly increase battery capacity, with several incumbent anode manufacturers scaling up production of these next-generation materials. #graphite #lithiumbatteries #lithium #nickel #cobalt #manganese

Today, the Chinese government, through the Ministry of Commerce, has announced new export restrictions on lithium-ion battery materials and equipment, specifically targeting graphite anodes. This action represents a significant step in limiting the Western world’s ability to establish its own supply chain. This is effective as of November 8th 2025. At Northern Graphite we are well advanced with our operating or soon to be operating mines in Lac des Iles Quebec and Okanjande Namibia and Battery Anode Materials processing sites in Quebec and Europe to rapidly provide a viable alternative to Chinese materials. #graphite #Batteryanodematerials #liionbatteries Key details include: Items related to graphite anode (negative electrode) materials: 1. Artificial (synthetic) graphite anode materials. 2. Anode materials composed of mixtures of artificial and natural graphite. 3. Granulation equipment for graphite anode materials: - Vertical granulating reactors with volume ≥ 5 m³ - Continuous granulating reactors with volume ≥ 5 m³ 4. Graphitization equipment for graphite anode materials: - Box furnaces - Acheson furnaces - Internal shuttle furnaces - Continuous graphitization furnaces 5. Coating/modification equipment for graphite anode materials: - Blending/coating apparatus with volume ≥ 300 L - Spray-drying equipment with volume ≥ 60 m³ - CVD (chemical vapor deposition) rotary kilns with drum diameter > 0.5 m 6. Technology and processes for graphite anode materials: - Granulation technology - Continuous graphitization - Liquid-phase coating technology Export Procedures and Requirements: - Exporters must apply for export licenses via the competent commerce authority, adhering to the Export Control Law and Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items. - Exporters are responsible for the authenticity of goods declared in customs submissions and must strengthen identification of export items. - Items under export control must be marked as “dual-use item” with the export control code in the customs declaration. - Items not controlled but with specifications close to controlled items should be marked as “not a controlled item” with specific parameters provided. - Customs reserves the right to question the completeness, accuracy, or authenticity of submitted information; exports will not be released during this questioning

China Just Cut Off 90% of This EV Material — What Happens Now? In December 2024, China implemented new export controls on graphite, citing national security concerns. For those who missed it, this isn’t just another trade spat — it’s a direct hit on one of the most critical materials in the clean energy transition. Why does it matter? Because graphite is essential to every lithium-ion battery. EVs, grid-scale storage, defense systems, smartphones — they all rely on it. And China refines over 90% of the world’s graphite supply. Now, with outbound shipments to the U.S. facing stricter review, the future of America’s battery supply chain hangs in the balance. The U.S. is responding — but it’s a race against time. In June 2021, Westwater Resources announced a $202 million graphite processing facility in Kellyton, Alabama — the first of its kind in the U.S. Once fully operational, it’s expected to produce 7,500 metric tons annually of battery-grade graphite. Meanwhile, in Michigan, Graphex Technologies is establishing a new plant in Warren that will produce 15,000 metric tons annually — a lifeline for Detroit’s booming EV manufacturing sector. This isn’t just about battery tech. It’s about energy independence, industrial security, and the millions of American jobs tied to advanced manufacturing. The question we must ask: If we don’t control the materials that power the future, can we truly lead it? – Clayton Turner

The electrochemical coal-to-graphite technology developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory provides an economically viable path for U.S.-based #graphite production while creating value from a waste stream. Industry partner Ramaco Carbon plans to commercialize the process, potentially revitalizing coal-mining regions and creating new skilled #manufacturing jobs. An ORNL techno-economic analysis confirms the process can be scaled up profitably and produce graphite more affordably than the conventional graphite production process. ⚡🔋📈 Breakthroughs like these can build the domestic supply chains for #batteries used in more efficient electric #transportation and electric #grids. https://lnkd.in/eBCRbS4T