Update with Canada section revised
A government crackdown on graphite in China on has driven production losses this year for the world’s dominant producer.
China’s output of natural graphite is expected to fall to 1m. tpa after the government ordered the vast majority if the mines it controls in Hunan province to be closed on environmental and resource-protection grounds.
This will see a drop in amorphous graphite tonnages in the marketplace while flake graphite production is likely to remain stable.
Processors have been stockpiling graphite and blending with anthracite coal to extend supply. The Luhe Taiqing area of Hunan is known to...