North American Graphite Alliance

Reinforcing China+1 Strategy for a Long-term Energy Security! The graphite market surge has been one of the defining developments in 2024, particularly for the EV industry. With EVs projected to drive 87% of Active Anode Materials (AAM) demand by 2034, ensuring fair and competitive markets is crucial for securing reliable supplies, especially in regions like North America, Europe, and India, where supply deficits are set to grow significantly. In line with these industry shifts, the recent US lawsuit seeking sharp tariffs on Chinese import marks a crucial period ahead of us. As a member of the North American Graphite Alliance (NAGA), Epsilon Advanced Materials Pvt. Ltd. has joined US-based producers in petitioning the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission to address China’s market manipulation. Chinese dominance over 90% of the world’s graphite refining enables it to disrupt markets through subsidies and overproduction. The geopolitical tensions in 2024 have showed the necessity for a China+1 strategy that will be essential in achieving our long-term energy security. In India, the absence of tariffs on imported battery materials & graphite has led to an influx of low-quality goods from China. This market flooding undermines domestic producers and hinders the growth of local supply chain. With this trend, investments in the sector may face significant inefficiencies, jeopardizing India’s potential as a key player in the global EV ecosystem for resilient supply chains and energy security. At Epsilon, these challenges have only strengthened our resolve. External challenges this year enabled us to unlock new opportunities for innovation, localization, and focus on sustainability. Our plans for sustainable graphite anode production across India, North America, and Europe shows our foresight to support this sector. 2025 promises to be a pivotal year. I am optimistic about our ability to electrify greener possibilities, and this lawsuit will be a step toward ensuring clean energy progress, driven by innovation and fair competition in the US. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gNWJRb9T #Graphite #SupplyChain #EnergySecurity #EVBatteries #Sustainability #US #India

On the back of yesterday’s landmark trade case filing by the American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP), we spoke with Erik Olson, President of Venn Strategies and Spokesperson for the North American Graphite Alliance This pivotal case seeks tariffs of up to 920% on Chinese graphite imports, challenging China’s market dominance and state-sponsored subsidies. https://lnkd.in/eC-sqc8k

NAGA spokesperson Erik Olson sat down with Harry Minnis, CA of GraphiteHub to discuss the new U.S. trade case alleging Chinese #graphite dumping, the state of the domestic graphite industry, and how a second Trump Administration may impact the development of domestic critical minerals supply chains. View below:

The American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP) have filed a trade case with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to investigate China for exporting natural and synthetic graphite at unfair prices to the United States. The case was filed by the AAAMP, which is comprised of U.S. members of the North American Graphite Alliance, including #NOVONIX. As a member, we fully support of the filing and hope that it will bring some transparency surround the graphite anode market. To read the full media release, click here: https://lnkd.in/e4MU3fi5 #GraphiteSupplyChain #AnodeMaterials #Trade

A group of American graphite producers led by the U.S.-based members of NAGA filed a trade case with the U.S. government today over #China's manipulation of the global #graphite market. The filing alleges that tariffs as high as 920% are needed to offset China's dumping of artificially cheap graphite into the U.S., which is made possible by state-sponsored policies and massive subsidies. Read more about the case and its implications from Bloomberg:

Today, the American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP), which was formed by the U.S.-based members of NAGA, submitted a petition to the U.S. government to initiate a #trade investigation to protect the domestic #graphite industry and impose tariffs as high as 920% on imports of natural and synthetic graphite from China used to make lithium-ion #battery anode material. "There is overwhelming evidence that China dumps artificially cheap graphite into global markets, which is made possible by state-sponsored policies and massive subsidies,” said AAAMP spokesperson Erik Olson. Read the full press release:

"When the export controls came into effect in December last year, there was quite a surge in demand. We started ramping up capacity," said Hugues Jacquemin, CEO of NAGA member Northern Graphite. Jacquemin was recently interviewed for an article about how China's #graphite trade restrictions have accelerated the need for Western companies to find alternative graphite supply chains. From Thomson Reuters:

Hugues Jacquemin is in Brussels for Raw Materials Week 2024, where he joined leading Canadian critical minerals companies to discuss how to advance the sector and maintain Canada’s ability to be a leading supplier to global energy transition. In a panel led by Gert de Boever, head of investment for the Embassy of Canada to Belgium and Luxembourg, Hugues and his fellow panelists from #canadanickel, #nanoone, #e3lithium discuss why collaboration within the supply chain is so important in developing critical mineral and battery material projects, and how government can and should play a role in supporting the industry.

#NOVONIX recently announced the conditional commitment offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Loan Programs Office | U.S. Department of Energy. The loan represents over 73 per cent of the eligible investment required for the construction of a new 31,500 tonne per annum facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Read the full release, here: https://lnkd.in/gTDE-TfF #ConditionalCommitment #SyntheticGraphite #BatterySupplyChain #ManufacturingPlant 

China's new export restrictions on several critical minerals, including #graphite, serve as another reminder of why an independent domestic graphite supply chain must be established to safeguard North America's economic and national security interests.