[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":756},["ShallowReactive",2],{"ticker-data":3,"story-article/chinese-anode-producers-move-ahead-with-capacity-expansion-plans-despite-falling-graphite-prices":550},[4,52,82,112,148,186,229,261,297,336,378,419,460,490,520],{"publishedDate":5,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":8,"today":9,"last":10,"percentageChange":11,"yearToDate":12,"yearOnYear":13,"oneYearIndexTrend":14,"url":48,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-10-14","2wk","Updated every 2 weeks","Lithium",317.07,322.34,-1.64,35.66,90.62,[15,16,18,21,24,27,30,33,36,39,42,45],{"date":5,"value":9},{"date":17,"value":10},"2026-09-30",{"date":19,"value":20},"2026-09-16",354.99,{"date":22,"value":23},"2026-09-02",385.07,{"date":25,"value":26},"2026-08-19",372.67,{"date":28,"value":29},"2026-08-05",367.54,{"date":31,"value":32},"2026-07-22",388.26,{"date":34,"value":35},"2026-07-08",399.4,{"date":37,"value":38},"2026-06-24",410.62,{"date":40,"value":41},"2026-06-10",427.77,{"date":43,"value":44},"2026-05-27",449.85,{"date":46,"value":47},"2026-05-13",451.12,"/lithium/prices",null,false,true,{"publishedDate":5,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":53,"today":54,"last":55,"percentageChange":56,"yearToDate":57,"yearOnYear":58,"oneYearIndexTrend":59,"url":48,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"Lithium Carbonate",256.83,278.71,-7.85,1.12,46.89,[60,61,62,64,66,68,70,72,74,76,78,80],{"date":5,"value":54},{"date":17,"value":55},{"date":19,"value":63},300.39,{"date":22,"value":65},306.07,{"date":25,"value":67},297.22,{"date":28,"value":69},296.63,{"date":31,"value":71},309.38,{"date":34,"value":73},317.2,{"date":37,"value":75},330.54,{"date":40,"value":77},346.5,{"date":43,"value":79},358.35,{"date":46,"value":81},350.28,{"publishedDate":5,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":83,"today":84,"last":85,"percentageChange":86,"yearToDate":87,"yearOnYear":88,"oneYearIndexTrend":89,"url":48,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"Lithium Hydroxide",292.05,311.1,-6.12,43.7,92,[90,91,92,94,96,98,100,102,104,106,108,110],{"date":5,"value":84},{"date":17,"value":85},{"date":19,"value":93},339.85,{"date":22,"value":95},352.45,{"date":25,"value":97},341.12,{"date":28,"value":99},337.87,{"date":31,"value":101},354.36,{"date":34,"value":103},364.06,{"date":37,"value":105},376.67,{"date":40,"value":107},393.29,{"date":43,"value":109},411.01,{"date":46,"value":111},408.51,{"publishedDate":5,"updateFrequency":113,"updateFrequencyText":114,"label":115,"today":116,"last":117,"percentageChange":118,"yearToDate":119,"yearOnYear":120,"oneYearIndexTrend":121,"url":147,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"1wk","Updated every week","Cobalt",171.41,173.83,-1.39,-27.13,-1.06,[122,123,125,126,129,131,133,136,138,141,142,145],{"date":5,"value":116},{"date":124,"value":117},"2026-10-07",{"date":17,"value":117},{"date":127,"value":128},"2026-09-23",175.44,{"date":19,"value":130},178.66,{"date":22,"value":132},189.92,{"date":134,"value":135},"2026-08-26",192.6,{"date":25,"value":137},199.83,{"date":139,"value":140},"2026-08-12",217.25,{"date":28,"value":140},{"date":143,"value":144},"2026-07-29",221.25,{"date":31,"value":146},224.44,"/cobalt/prices",{"publishedDate":149,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":150,"today":151,"last":152,"percentageChange":153,"yearToDate":154,"yearOnYear":155,"oneYearIndexTrend":156,"url":185,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-10-21","Nickel",107.13,114.04,-6.06,-11.27,-0.65,[157,158,159,161,164,166,168,170,173,176,179,182],{"date":149,"value":151},{"date":124,"value":152},{"date":127,"value":160},116.1,{"date":162,"value":163},"2026-09-09",119.13,{"date":134,"value":165},119.61,{"date":139,"value":167},121.04,{"date":143,"value":169},121.19,{"date":171,"value":172},"2026-07-15",122.66,{"date":174,"value":175},"2026-07-01",125.61,{"date":177,"value":178},"2026-06-17",131.5,{"date":180,"value":181},"2026-06-03",134.65,{"date":183,"value":184},"2026-05-20",135.83,"/nickel/prices",{"publishedDate":17,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":189,"today":190,"last":191,"percentageChange":192,"yearToDate":193,"yearOnYear":194,"oneYearIndexTrend":195,"url":228,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"1mo","Updated every month","Natural Graphite",78.45,80.18,-2.16,-3.84,-4.03,[196,197,199,202,205,208,211,214,217,220,223,226],{"date":17,"value":190},{"date":198,"value":191},"2026-08-28",{"date":200,"value":201},"2026-07-31",80.66,{"date":203,"value":204},"2026-06-30",82.87,{"date":206,"value":207},"2026-05-29",82.99,{"date":209,"value":210},"2026-04-30",82.93,{"date":212,"value":213},"2026-03-31",82.39,{"date":215,"value":216},"2026-02-27",81.92,{"date":218,"value":219},"2026-01-30",81.69,{"date":221,"value":222},"2025-12-31",81.58,{"date":224,"value":225},"2025-11-28",81.35,{"date":227,"value":225},"2025-10-31","/natural-graphite/prices",{"publishedDate":17,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":230,"today":231,"last":232,"percentageChange":233,"yearToDate":234,"yearOnYear":235,"oneYearIndexTrend":236,"url":260,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"Anode Coke",86.15,81.86,5.24,15.73,19.78,[237,238,239,241,242,244,246,248,250,252,254,257],{"date":17,"value":231},{"date":200,"value":232},{"date":203,"value":240},80.54,{"date":206,"value":240},{"date":209,"value":243},84.01,{"date":212,"value":245},79.79,{"date":215,"value":247},75.72,{"date":218,"value":249},74.61,{"date":221,"value":251},74.44,{"date":227,"value":253},72.75,{"date":255,"value":256},"2025-09-30",71.92,{"date":258,"value":259},"2025-08-29",71.46,"/synthetic-graphite/prices",{"publishedDate":262,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":263,"today":264,"last":265,"percentageChange":266,"yearToDate":267,"yearOnYear":268,"oneYearIndexTrend":269,"url":296,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-10-15","Anode",80.45,80.24,0.27,1.81,3.2,[270,271,273,275,276,278,281,284,287,289,291,293],{"date":262,"value":264},{"date":272,"value":265},"2026-09-15",{"date":274,"value":265},"2026-08-17",{"date":171,"value":265},{"date":277,"value":265},"2026-06-15",{"date":279,"value":280},"2026-05-15",79.16,{"date":282,"value":283},"2026-04-15",81.98,{"date":285,"value":286},"2026-03-16",79.03,{"date":288,"value":286},"2026-02-16",{"date":290,"value":286},"2026-01-15",{"date":292,"value":286},"2025-12-15",{"date":294,"value":295},"2025-11-17",77.79,"/anode/prices",{"publishedDate":298,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":299,"today":300,"last":301,"percentageChange":302,"yearToDate":303,"yearOnYear":304,"oneYearIndexTrend":305,"url":335,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-08-01","Cathode",73.32,77.21,-5.04,14.41,55.07,[306,307,308,311,314,317,320,323,325,327,329,332],{"date":298,"value":300},{"date":174,"value":301},{"date":309,"value":310},"2026-06-01",80.32,{"date":312,"value":313},"2026-05-01",81.71,{"date":315,"value":316},"2026-04-01",77.27,{"date":318,"value":319},"2026-03-01",81.99,{"date":321,"value":322},"2026-02-01",80.5,{"date":290,"value":324},72.79,{"date":292,"value":326},64.08,{"date":294,"value":328},62.01,{"date":330,"value":331},"2025-10-15",53.51,{"date":333,"value":334},"2025-09-15",49.5,"/cathode/prices",{"publishedDate":337,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":338,"today":339,"last":340,"percentageChange":341,"yearToDate":342,"yearOnYear":343,"oneYearIndexTrend":344,"url":377,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2025-03-31","Lithium ion Batteries",74.53,71.3,4.53,-1.6,-20.88,[345,346,348,351,354,357,360,363,366,368,371,374],{"date":337,"value":339},{"date":347,"value":340},"2025-02-28",{"date":349,"value":350},"2025-01-31",71.45,{"date":352,"value":353},"2024-12-31",75.74,{"date":355,"value":356},"2024-11-29",76.98,{"date":358,"value":359},"2024-10-31",77.34,{"date":361,"value":362},"2024-09-30",77.43,{"date":364,"value":365},"2024-08-30",80.56,{"date":367,"value":207},"2024-07-31",{"date":369,"value":370},"2024-06-28",87.2,{"date":372,"value":373},"2024-05-31",90.7,{"date":375,"value":376},"2024-04-30",93.2,"/battery-gigafactory/prices",{"publishedDate":379,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":380,"today":381,"last":382,"percentageChange":383,"yearToDate":384,"yearOnYear":385,"oneYearIndexTrend":386,"url":418,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-10-08","Black Mass",37.11,38.95,-4.72,-14,18.31,[387,388,390,393,396,399,402,405,408,411,414,416],{"date":379,"value":381},{"date":389,"value":382},"2026-09-24",{"date":391,"value":392},"2026-09-10",42.03,{"date":394,"value":395},"2026-08-27",43.88,{"date":397,"value":398},"2026-08-13",42.33,{"date":400,"value":401},"2026-07-30",43.42,{"date":403,"value":404},"2026-07-16",46.74,{"date":406,"value":407},"2026-07-02",46.01,{"date":409,"value":410},"2026-06-18",49.57,{"date":412,"value":413},"2026-02-12",47.34,{"date":415,"value":410},"2026-01-29",{"date":290,"value":417},43.15,"/recycling/black-mass-prices",{"publishedDate":262,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":420,"today":421,"last":422,"percentageChange":423,"yearToDate":424,"yearOnYear":425,"oneYearIndexTrend":426,"url":459,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"Rare Earths",172.08,171.72,0.21,20.59,30.21,[427,428,430,433,436,439,442,445,448,451,454,457],{"date":262,"value":421},{"date":429,"value":422},"2026-10-01",{"date":431,"value":432},"2026-09-03",170.83,{"date":434,"value":435},"2026-08-20",169.63,{"date":437,"value":438},"2026-08-06",172.28,{"date":440,"value":441},"2026-07-23",173.94,{"date":443,"value":444},"2026-07-09",171.69,{"date":446,"value":447},"2026-06-25",168.55,{"date":449,"value":450},"2026-06-11",165,{"date":452,"value":453},"2026-05-28",163.89,{"date":455,"value":456},"2026-05-14",172.63,{"date":209,"value":458},175.6,"/rare-earths/prices",{"publishedDate":198,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":461,"today":462,"last":463,"percentageChange":464,"yearToDate":465,"yearOnYear":466,"oneYearIndexTrend":467,"url":377,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"NCM Mid-Nickel",152.7,162.48,-6.02,17.38,53.11,[468,469,470,472,474,476,478,480,482,484,486,488],{"date":198,"value":462},{"date":200,"value":463},{"date":203,"value":471},171.08,{"date":206,"value":473},173.65,{"date":209,"value":475},164.53,{"date":212,"value":477},157.28,{"date":215,"value":479},151.44,{"date":218,"value":481},144.5,{"date":221,"value":483},130.09,{"date":224,"value":485},124.6,{"date":227,"value":487},122.35,{"date":255,"value":489},103.5,{"publishedDate":198,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":491,"today":492,"last":493,"percentageChange":494,"yearToDate":495,"yearOnYear":496,"oneYearIndexTrend":497,"url":377,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"NCM High-Nickel",144.45,149.67,-3.49,26.69,49.06,[498,499,500,502,504,506,508,510,512,514,516,518],{"date":198,"value":492},{"date":200,"value":493},{"date":203,"value":501},157.37,{"date":206,"value":503},160,{"date":209,"value":505},149.53,{"date":212,"value":507},141.97,{"date":215,"value":509},136.99,{"date":218,"value":511},129.81,{"date":221,"value":513},114.02,{"date":224,"value":515},109.17,{"date":227,"value":517},109.02,{"date":255,"value":519},99.44,{"publishedDate":198,"updateFrequency":187,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":521,"today":522,"last":523,"percentageChange":524,"yearToDate":525,"yearOnYear":526,"oneYearIndexTrend":527,"url":377,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"LFP",229.17,218.34,4.96,49.35,83.44,[528,529,530,532,534,536,538,540,542,544,546,548],{"date":198,"value":522},{"date":200,"value":523},{"date":203,"value":531},239.1,{"date":206,"value":533},258.32,{"date":209,"value":535},239.37,{"date":212,"value":537},213.01,{"date":215,"value":539},204.49,{"date":218,"value":541},218.06,{"date":221,"value":543},153.45,{"date":224,"value":545},134.02,{"date":227,"value":547},118.22,{"date":255,"value":549},111.93,{"id":551,"uuid":552,"name":553,"slug":554,"full_slug":555,"content":556,"relatedArticles":754,"relatedVideos":755},112470823200926,"65a4450c-2bdd-42f8-b810-cb85fbc50b87","Chinese anode producers move ahead with capacity expansion plans despite falling graphite prices","chinese-anode-producers-move-ahead-with-capacity-expansion-plans-despite-falling-graphite-prices","article/chinese-anode-producers-move-ahead-with-capacity-expansion-plans-despite-falling-graphite-prices",{"_uid":557,"date":558,"tags":559,"editor":569,"content":579,"excerpt":734,"featured":51,"reporter":735,"_editable":739,"component":740,"seo_title":553,"categories":741,"visibility":747,"author_company":49,"featured_image":748,"seo_description":734,"author_full_name":49,"author_job_title":49,"formattedDate":752,"formattedArticleDate":753},"a47a5172-ae89-45e9-8435-5fd7d901308a","2023-09-08 00:00",[560,563,566],{"slug":561,"name":562},"africa","Africa",{"slug":564,"name":565},"australia","Australia",{"slug":567,"name":568},"china","China",[570],{"slug":571,"name":572,"content":573},"didi-bostock","Didi Bostock",{"job_title":574,"image":575,"bio":577,"linkedin":578},"Editor - Energy Transition & Economics",{"filename":576},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/2c5ca5c1a3/didi-bostock.jpeg","Didi is the Energy Transition & Economics Editor at Benchmark, covering a broad range of markets across the energy transition. His remit spans from downstream sectors such as BESS and EVs, through to midstream such as new technologies and battery production, to upstream critical minerals mining. He also leads on financial analysis across these supply chains, alongside in-depth policy analysis.\n","https://www.linkedin.com/in/didi-bostock-656342198/",{"type":580,"content":581},"doc",[582,589,604,609,614,619,624,633,646,659,664,669,674,681,694,699,704,709,714,719,724,729],{"type":583,"attrs":584,"content":585},"paragraph",{"textAlign":49},[586],{"text":587,"type":588},"Chinese anode producers have outlined a spate of capacity expansion plans and inked feedstock partnerships since last month, showing the sector is gearing up for growing EV battery demand despite months of falling prices. ","text",{"type":583,"attrs":590,"content":591},{"textAlign":49},[592,594,602],{"text":593,"type":588},"China’s state-owned Minmetals announced in late August it had begun trial production of",{"text":595,"type":588,"marks":596}," flake graphite",[597],{"type":598,"attrs":599},"link",{"href":600,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":601},"https://www.benchmarkminerals.com/forecasts/natural-graphite/reports/","url",{"text":603,"type":588}," concentrate at its 200,000 tonne per year graphite processing facility in Heilongjiang province. ",{"type":583,"attrs":605,"content":606},{"textAlign":49},[607],{"text":608,"type":588},"And China’s Carbon One New Energy Group said it is also planning to construct a 200,000 tonne per year nameplate capacity natural graphite mining project in Heilongjiang. ",{"type":583,"attrs":610,"content":611},{"textAlign":49},[612],{"text":613,"type":588},"This expansionary activity shows that the Chinese industry is looking out towards 2030 when demand for natural anode materials from the EV battery segment is forecast to jump 327% globally from 2023 levels, according to Benchmark data. ",{"type":583,"attrs":615,"content":616},{"textAlign":49},[617],{"text":618,"type":588},"The Benchmark Flake Graphite Price Index has fallen by 28% year-to-date, while prices for higher purity -100 mesh flake graphite fell by 7% m-o-m in August to an average of $578/tonne (94-95% C, FOB China).",{"type":583,"attrs":620,"content":621},{"textAlign":49},[622],{"text":623,"type":588},"Prices for high energy natural graphite anode have fallen by 9.4% this year to an average of RMB 53,000/tonne ($7,261) (DDP China).",{"type":583,"attrs":625,"content":626},{"textAlign":49},[627],{"type":628,"attrs":629},"image",{"id":49,"alt":630,"src":631,"title":49,"source":49,"copyright":49,"meta_data":632},"","https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/ed90d47032/bm-chart-screenshot-35.png",{},{"type":583,"attrs":634,"content":635},{"textAlign":49},[636,638,644],{"text":637,"type":588},"According to Benchmark analyst Tony Alderson, natural graphite anode materials will retain their importance in the lithium ion supply chain long term despite the growing ",{"text":639,"type":588,"marks":640},"cost-competitiveness of synthetic anode alternatives",[641],{"type":598,"attrs":642},{"href":643,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":601},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/synthetic-graphite-anode-prices-fall-20-this-year-putting-pressure-on-natural-graphite",{"text":645,"type":588},".",{"type":583,"attrs":647,"content":648},{"textAlign":49},[649,651,657],{"text":650,"type":588},"Natural graphite should retain market appeal in Western markets for its superior ",{"text":652,"type":588,"marks":653},"ESG credentials",[654],{"type":598,"attrs":655},{"href":656,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":601},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/esg-of-graphite-how-do-synthetic-graphite-and-natural-graphite-compare",{"text":658,"type":588}," compared to petrochemicals-based synthetic graphite. Further, manufacturers often mix the natural grade with synthetic materials to improve anode performance. ",{"type":583,"attrs":660,"content":661},{"textAlign":49},[662],{"text":663,"type":588},"Increasing natural graphite output will depend on sourcing enough feedstock, as the global market for flake graphite is due to enter a prolonged deficit from 2029 once demand growth outstrips supply growth. ",{"type":583,"attrs":665,"content":666},{"textAlign":49},[667],{"text":668,"type":588},"Over the past month Chinese anode companies have moved to secure supplies of graphite from Africa. ",{"type":583,"attrs":670,"content":671},{"textAlign":49},[672],{"text":673,"type":588},"Africa could almost double its flake graphite output to around 1.5 million tonnes per year by the end of this decade, according to Benchmark data, and will come to rival China as a major supplier.",{"type":675,"attrs":676,"content":678},"heading",{"level":677,"textAlign":49},4,[679],{"text":680,"type":588},"Securing African graphite ",{"type":583,"attrs":682,"content":683},{"textAlign":49},[684,686,692],{"text":685,"type":588},"In July, Carbon One ",{"text":687,"type":588,"marks":688},"said it would buy",[689],{"type":598,"attrs":690},{"href":691,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":601},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/chinas-overseas-anode-expansion-accelerates-with-srg-graphite-deal",{"text":693,"type":588}," a 19.4% stake in Canadian graphite miner SRG Mining, continuing the trend of Chinese flake graphite diversification.",{"type":583,"attrs":695,"content":696},{"textAlign":49},[697],{"text":698,"type":588},"And then in mid-August, China’s largest anode producer BTR signed a binding offtake agreement with Australian graphite project developer Evolution Energy Minerals. ",{"type":583,"attrs":700,"content":701},{"textAlign":49},[702],{"text":703,"type":588},"BTR will secure 100% of the fine flake graphite output from Evolutions’ Chilalo project in Tanzania, with an option to extend for a further three years",{"type":583,"attrs":705,"content":706},{"textAlign":49},[707],{"text":708,"type":588},"The companies also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-develop a new natural graphite anode facility. The focus is on building the site in North America but the companies have also stated they are considering other ex-China locations. ",{"type":583,"attrs":710,"content":711},{"textAlign":49},[712],{"text":713,"type":588},"BTR already mines its own natural graphite at Jixi, Heilongjiang and plans to build a new 200,000 tonne per year capacity flake graphite mine, also in Heilongjiang.",{"type":675,"attrs":715,"content":716},{"level":677,"textAlign":49},[717],{"text":718,"type":588},"Syrah’s Mozambique mine to supply China’s Graphex",{"type":583,"attrs":720,"content":721},{"textAlign":49},[722],{"text":723,"type":588},"Australian miner Syrah Resources also agreed to supply China’s Graphex Technologies’ with an unspecified volume of natural flake graphite from its Balama mine in Mozambique through an offtake agreement announced in early August. ",{"type":583,"attrs":725,"content":726},{"textAlign":49},[727],{"text":728,"type":588},"The partnership will help with Graphex’s strategy to establish 55,000 tonne per year anode capacity across China and North America by 2026. Its graphite anode materials pipeline capacity currently stands at 30,000 tonnes.",{"type":583,"attrs":730,"content":731},{"textAlign":49},[732],{"text":733,"type":588},"Graphex has started construction on a 15,000 tonne per year capacity site at Warren, Michigan, its first overseas anode plant. ","Chinese anode producers have outlined a spate of capacity expansion plans and inked feedstock partnerships since last month, showing the sector is gearing up for growing EV battery demand despite months of falling prices. China’s state-owned Minmetals announced in late August it had begun trial production of flake graphite concentrate at its 200,000 tonne per […]",[736],{"slug":571,"name":572,"content":737},{"job_title":574,"image":738,"bio":577,"linkedin":578},{"filename":576},"\u003C!--#storyblok#{\"name\": \"article\", \"space\": \"\", \"uid\": \"a47a5172-ae89-45e9-8435-5fd7d901308a\", \"id\": \"\"}-->","article",[742,744],{"slug":743,"name":263},"anode",{"slug":745,"name":746},"graphite","Graphite","private",{"id":49,"alt":630,"name":630,"focus":630,"title":630,"source":630,"filename":749,"copyright":630,"fieldtype":750,"meta_data":751,"is_external_url":51},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/1093d2c339/bm-btr-anode.jpg","asset",{"alt":630,"title":630,"source":630,"copyright":630},"Sep 08, 2023","8th September 2023",[],[],1792773910841]