Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Financial Times
Context: China has implemented export restrictions on certain graphite products, citing national security concerns, as part of its broader efforts to control critical mineral exports.
- China is the world’s largest producer of natural graphite, accounting for two-thirds of global supply.
- While Mozambique, Madagascar, and Brazil are significant non-Chinese producers, China also refines over 90% of the world’s graphite for use in EV battery anodes
About Graphite:
Graphite is a naturally occurring crystalline form of carbon. It’s made up of stacked layers of graphene. Graphite is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions.
Graphite is a mineral that’s found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. It’s extremely soft, cleaves with very light pressure, and has a very low specific gravity.
Graphite is a good conductor of electricity and heat. It’s also lighter than diamond, smooth and slippery to touch.
Graphite, a key component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, has seen a surge in demand due to the growth of the EV industry. The battery end-use market for graphite has grown by 250% globally since 2018
