China EV, battery makers grapple with graphite squeeze
$NIO Inc(NIO.US$ $XPeng(XPEV.US$ $Li Auto(LI.US$ $Contemporary Amperex Technology(300750.SZ$ As they scour the globe for the lithium, nickel and cobalt resources needed to keep China on top in the electric vehicle (EV) stakes, Chinese battery and EV makers are fretting about supply of another mineral closer to home - graphite.
Graphite, in both natural and synthetic forms, is used for the negative end of a lithium-ion battery, known as the anode. Around 70% of all graphite comes from China, and there are few viable alternatives for batteries.
Chinese producers have their work cut out keeping up with global demand for graphite, which has surged along with rapid growth in the battery market in recent years.
Consultancy Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) sees a roughly 20,000 tonne graphite deficit in 2022, versus a similar-sized surplus last year. About 20,000 tonnes of graphite is enough to make batteries for roughly 250,000 EVs, an industrial source said.
"Demand from clients such as $Tesla(TSLA.US$ is growing rapidly while supply of raw materials has been extremely tight," the source said, adding that the recent power rationing on industry had exacerbated the situation.
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