Global natural graphite output to grow 7.6% in 2021 – report
Syrah’s Balama graphite project in Mozambique. (Photo courtesy of Syrah Resources).
After increasing in 2018 and 2019, global natural graphite production has been adversely affected by covid-19 in 2020, with mines being placed either under care and maintenance or temporary suspension due to lockdowns and restrictions.
According to analytics firm GlobalData, while output has declined by 15.4% to 952.6kt in 2020, it is expected that natural graphite production will increase by 7.6% in 2021 to 1,025.5kt.
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China, the world’s largest producer, is expected to produce 665kt of natural graphite over the year. This represents a decline of 5% versus 2019 due to covid-19 restrictions, mainly during the first quarter of 2020 when several mines and plants had to temporarily cease production activities.