- Lithium-ion battery anodes are typically made from graphite.
- Graphite supply is split between natural flake graphite and synthetic graphite made from petroleum coke.
- China dominates both natural graphite mining and anode-grade graphite processing.
Why graphite matters for batteries
The anode in a typical lithium-ion battery is made primarily of graphite. While silicon anode research is active, commercial cells still use graphite as the dominant anode material. Battery demand has made graphite a strategic material.
Natural vs synthetic graphite
Natural graphite is mined and then upgraded into spherical purified graphite for battery use. Synthetic graphite is made from petroleum coke through high-temperature processing. Each has cost, performance, and environmental tradeoffs.
China’s role
China dominates both natural graphite mining and anode-grade processing. A large majority of the world’s spherical purified natural graphite and synthetic anode material is produced in China. Diversification efforts are underway in Canada, Mozambique, Australia, and elsewhere.
Anode supply chain steps
Mining flake graphite is only the first step. The flake must be purified, shaped (spheronization), and coated to become anode-grade material. Each step adds value and is itself concentrated in China.
Why graphite is a critical mineral
Graphite appears on Canadian, US, and EU critical mineral lists because of its essential role in lithium-ion batteries and the supply concentration in China. Several non-Chinese projects are advancing under government support programs.
| Natural graphite | Synthetic graphite | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Mined flake | Petroleum coke processed at high temperature |
| Energy intensity | Lower | Higher |
| Performance | Lower cost, slightly lower cycle life | Higher cost, longer cycle life |
| Supply concentration | China and Mozambique dominate | China dominates |
Frequently asked questions
Industry structure and supply concentration are described by the US Geological Survey, Natural Resources Canada, and the International Energy Agency.