Top 10 Graphite-mining Countries

Who produces graphite?

Due to the growing popularity of lithium-ion batteries the worldwide production of graphite increases year by year. Graphite is one of their main raw materials for batteries used everywhere, in both gadgets and electric cars. Experts expect the demand for lithium-ion batteries to rise, which will also increase the demand for graphite.

Despite alternative technologies for lithium-ion batteries, graphite will remain the main raw material for electric car batteries for the next 10 years. With the increase in electric vehicle sales and the construction of lithium-ion battery factories, the demand for graphite anodes for batteries could increase by a factor of 7.

Would you like to know more about graphite, its production, advanced purification methods as well as about its application in industries? - contact Thermal & Material Engineering Center.

Limited supply combined with growing demand in the battery market has pushed prices of natural graphite rise over the past few years. China, Mozambique and Brazil remain the main suppliers in 2020.

Let's take a look at the list of top graphite-producing countries in 2020.

1. China

Mine production: 650,000 MT

As mentioned, China was the world’s largest graphite producer in 2020. It put out 650,000 metric tons (MT) of the material, almost the same amount it produced the previous years. According to the US Geological Survey, the country accounted for 62 % of world graphite mining in 2020.

Despite China’s stranglehold on the graphite market, investors shouldn’t necessarily expect the Asian nation’s dominance to continue forever. That’s because in recent years the graphite-mining country has made an effort to streamline production. Part of that process has been taking polluting producers offline, and there have also been plant closures in Shandong, China, due to environmental targets. These may further impact Chinese graphite production going forward.

2. Mozambique

Mine production: 120,000 MT

Mozambique has made huge gains in graphite production over the past few years, with 2020 output clocking in at 120,000 MT. The country is home to two main graphite miners: Syrah Resources and Triton Minerals.

The US Geological Survey states, “A graphite mine project in Mozambique commenced operations at the start of 2018 and was ramping up production during 2018 and 2019 at a high-grade graphite deposit, which was reportedly the largest natural graphite mine globally. The mine cut back production during 2019 in an effort to stabilize graphite prices. The mine is expected to operate for 50 years.”

3. Brazil

Mine production: 95,000 MT

Brazil was the world’s third largest graphite producer in 2020 with output of 95,000 MT during the period. Brazil’s 2020 graphite-mining output decreased by 1,000 MT from 2019.

Little information is available about the Brazilian graphite-mining industry, as the country’s top producers of the metal are private. However, ETF.com does state that the country’s two largest graphite producers are Extrativa Metalquimica and Nacional de Grafite.

4. Madagascar

Mine production: 47,000 MT

Madagascar produced much less graphite than the three top graphite-producing countries in 2020, but it’s still the world’s fourth largest producer of the metal. According to US Geological Survey, some mines in Madagascar began ramping up production in 2018, while additional large graphite deposits are currently under development in the East African nation.

5. India

Mine production: 34,000 MT

India’s total graphite output last year came to 34,000 MT, slightly lower than the amount it put out in 2019. The top graphite-producing country’s reserves vary widely from state to state, with Arunachal Pradesh holding nearly half of India’s graphite reserves.

The graphite-mining country has eight main producers, including Tirupati Carbons & Chemicals, Chotanagpur Graphite Industries and Carbon & Graphite Products. HEG is a small graphite electrode producer in India that made headlines for record profit in 2018.

6. Russia

Mine production: 24,000 MT

In 2020, Russia’s graphite output clocked in at 24,000 MT, just a tad down from 25,100 MT in 2019. Despite this plateau, the country expects to significantly increase its production during the next several years due to the implementation of two investment projects, Dalgrafit and Uralgraphite. As with many of the countries on this list, little further information is available on graphite mining in Russia.

7. Ukraine

Mine production: 19,000 MT

Ukraine, another top graphite-producing country, put out 19,000 MT of graphite in 2020, lower than 2019’s 20,000 MT. Zavalyevskiy Graphite is a large producer in Ukraine. According to its website, it’s been in operation since 1934 and produces up to 30,000 tonnes of natural flake graphite per year.

8. Norway

Mine production: 15,000 MT

Norway’s graphite-mining output was almost flat from 2019 to 2020, going from 16,000 MT to 15,000 MT. All graphite deposits in the country contain flake graphite and are generally low tonnage. That said, many are in favorable locations — for example, close to the sea or to the electrical grid.

9. Pakistan

Mine production: 13,000 MT

Pakistan comes in at ninth place for graphite production. The country produced 13,000 MT of graphite in 2020, which slightly less than the previous year. Even though its production numbers make it a top graphite-producing country, information on graphite mining in Pakistan is scarce.

10. Canada

Mine production: 10,000 MT

Canada’s graphite production fell slightly in 2020, coming in at 10,000 MT. Interest in Canada as a potential source of graphite has been rising for the past few years, particularly since Tesla said that it plans to source the lithium, graphite and cobalt it needs for its Nevada-based lithium-ion battery gigafactory from North America.

To know more about graphite, its production, advanced purification methods as well as about its application in industries? - contact Thermal & Material Engineering Center.

MAY 11th, 2022

Source