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In the past week, the U.S. graphite trade case took a major step forward with the initial International Trade Commission hearing on proposed tariffs up to 920% on Chinese imports. Tesla has pushed back, citing a lack of U.S. suppliers meeting their standards. However, Erik Olson, spokesperson for the trade group that put forward this case, emphasised that the risks surrounding China’s control over critical minerals are now 'too big to ignore,' as bipartisan lawmakers in Washington show increasing support for stronger action. This case could significantly impact both the U.S. graphite industry and the EV market. https://lnkd.in/e7RAbyvq

🔋 Graphite Market Weekly Update: Highlights from January 6 - January 10, 2024 📈 Explore this week’s key events in the graphite industry, from company updates and share price movements to broader trends in the EV market.

Trump is considering a national economic emergency declaration to enable sweeping tariffs under the IEEPA, which allows tariffs to be implemented without strict requirements to prove they are needed on national security grounds. If implemented, critical minerals like graphite could be targeted, given their strategic importance. https://lnkd.in/d67F-zxh

Northern Graphite announced today that, alongside the restart of the Lac des Iles mill on January 13, they have 'negotiated significant price increases with customers for its graphite for 2025 to reflect rising costs of production and inflation'. Interested to see what the prices are and if this trend is starting to occur across the board. https://lnkd.in/eb-NeWXV

Panasonic Energy, has made cutting reliance on Chinese supply chains its “No. 1 objective” for U.S. EV battery production. Allan Swan President of Panasonic Energy of North America, emphasised, “The first thing the business has to do in regards to Trump tariffs is not to have the supply chain dedicated from China.” https://lnkd.in/dJyPsCzy

🔋 Graphite Market Weekly Update: Highlights from December 30 - January 3, 2024 📈 Explore this week’s key events in the graphite industry, from company updates and share price movements to broader trends in the EV market.

China is proposing a new round of export restrictions on critical minerals such as lithium and gallium. Once again, this highlights China's dominant position in the critical minerals industry. https://lnkd.in/gv-6cYwp

The Natural Graphite Index, reported by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, decreased in December by 0.15%, now standing at 83.95, down from 84.08. #Graphite

Reflecting on 2024, the graphite industry has faced numerous challenges but still remains key to the energy transition. Looking ahead to 2025, there is much to be optimistic about. Given that a large amount of the supply currently originates from China, any disruption - be it from geopolitical tensions, export restrictions, or policy shifts - could drastically reshape global supply. These changes have the potential to rapidly accelerate price recovery and significantly transform the graphite market. Follow for more updates on GraphiteHub https://lnkd.in/enc_2Jjx

Recent developments by Mitsubishi Chemical Group highlight the critical role of natural graphite in EVs. They have introduced an innovative solution to address swelling, a common issue with natural graphite. With plans to expand production at their Kagawa Plant to 11,000 tons annually, Mitsubishi reinforces the importance of natural graphite. https://lnkd.in/detkW3ws