Price of graphite for energy storage in overseas energy storage projects

How much does graphite cost?

Natural graphite is typically less expensive than synthetic graphite. Just one example: The graphite price per kg for natural flake type can range from $800 to $1,600, depending on its purity and form. The synthetic graphite price, typically over $2,000 per kg, are high because of its high production costs and wide range of uses.

Why is graphite so expensive?

Natural Graphite: Available in flake or amorphous varieties, natural graphite pricing is influenced by purity and mesh size. Prices increase as flake size increases, because larger flakes are needed in specialty applications — such as batteries, graphite’s highest-value end use.

Does the US import graphite?

The United States does not produce any natural graphite and therefore must rely solely on imports to satisfy domestic demand. The level of foreign dependence has increased over the years. The US imported 38,900 tonnes of graphite in 2016 and 70,700t in 2018.

How much graphite will we need by 2040?

The demand for graphite is only headed in one direction. A White House report on critical supply chains showed that graphite demand for clean energy applications will require 25 times more graphite by 2040 than was produced worldwide in 2020. We have clearly reached a point when much more graphite needs to be discovered and mined.

How much graphite is mined in the world?

Between 2018 and 2019, world mine production actually declined by 20,000 tonnes, or 1.8%. Global production in 2019 and 2020 was exactly the same, 1.1 million tonnes. Currently there are no producing graphite mines in the United States, and only 10,000 tonnes a year is being mined from two facilities in Canada.

Why are Chinese graphite prices going up?

Metal Bulletin reported in October that Chinese graphite prices are likely heading higher in the last quarter of this year due to rising electricity costs and reduced power supply, as well as insufficient inventories and inadequate availability of feedstock for spherical graphite processing.