Batteries · Graphite (C)

Graphite

China produces 95% of the world's battery-grade graphite. Battery anodes, refractories for steelmaking, and nuclear-grade graphite.

95%: of battery-grade graphite is in China
69%: of EU imports of artificial graphite from outside the EU came from China in August 2026
2: sites watched from orbit on OreOrbit
10 Nov: next deadline: China's pause on its October 2025 export controls is due to end

Where it is made

Share of world output held by the leading country at each stage. Sources: 2024, IEA, 2024, USGS.

What Europe imports

In August 2026, the EU imported €26.8 m of artificial graphite from outside the EU, 69% of it from China.

China everywhere else outside the EU. Monthly value of EU imports, Artificial graphite. Source: Eurostat Comext.

Why it matters for Europe

Europe mines little graphite. Sweden's Vittangi project aims to turn its own graphite into anode material at Luleå. China has required export licences for some graphite since December 2023.

Key figures

78% of world natural graphite output came from China in 2024 (1.27 of about 1.6 Mt) USGS MCS 2025
10 Nov 2026 is when China's pause on export licences for graphite anode materials is due to end MOFCOM, via Mondaq

Sites on the atlas

BalamaMine, Mozambique
VittangiPlanned project, Sweden

Coming up

10 Nov 2026China's pause on its October 2025 export controls is due to end Pillsbury / RAWMATERIALS.net
10 Jan 2027China's extended trade arrangements with the US run out RAWMATERIALS.net

Options for Europe

11 EU strategic projects: Talga Vittangi (Sweden), SALROM (Romania)
Recycling meets 3% of EU demand today, against the EU's 25% goal for 2030.
New supply on the atlas: Vittangi (late 2027 at the earliest)