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Graphite Mining in the US

Amanda Kay - April 19th, 2018


Graphite has enjoyed increased interest in recent years thanks to expected growth in demand for electric vehicles.
However, China is the top producer of graphite by far, and it’s not particularly easy — or desirable — to invest in companies mining graphite there.
Many investors are instead looking to North America for graphite opportunities, especially since Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) announcement that it plans to source the lithium, graphite and cobalt it needs for its Nevada-based gigafactory from companies working on the continent. In 2015, Tesla backed up that statement by signing two lithium supply deals with companies whose projects are in North America.

Graphite Mining in the US | Investing News Network
But while investors are keen to take stakes in North America-focused graphite companies, there are very few companies actually producing graphite in the region. In fact, in 2017 only two North American countries produced any graphite at all — Canada put out 30,000 MT of the metal, while Mexico produced 4,000 MT. The US produced none at all.

For those reasons, market watchers are wondering whether North American graphite production is set to rise, and in particular whether graphite mining in the US will ever happen. On that note, here’s a look at the history of US graphite production and what may be next

Graphite Mining in the US | Investing News Network
Graphite mining in the US: Lack of supply

Graphite is deemed a critical material by the US, and about a century ago it was mined abundantly in the country, mostly in Alabama. A New York Times article states that in 1916 the country produced 10.9 million pounds of crystalline graphite, while in 1917, it put out 2,622 tons of amorphous graphite.

However, according to a report from the US Geological Survey, graphite mining in the US has long since stagnated. In fact, the metal has not been mined in the country since 1990, when United Minerals suspended operations at its graphite mine in Montana.
As a result, the US now imports all of the graphite it requires. In terms of exactly how much the country needs, another US Geological Survey report states that in 2017, 95 US firms consumed 24,000 tons of natural graphite valued at $42.9 million.

Total imports for that year stood at 50,000 tons of natural graphite — of that amount, 75 percent was flake and high-purity graphite, 24 percent was amorphous graphite and 1 percent was lump and chip graphite. The US’ main sources of graphite for the year were China (35 percent), Mexico (31 percent), Canada (17 percent) and Brazil (8 percent). The other 9 percent was derived from Graphite Mining in the US | Investing News Network
The US mainly used that graphite in brake linings, foundry operations, lubricants, refractory applications, powdered metals and steelmaking.
Graphite mining in the US: Demand rising

Demand for graphite is closely tied to steelmaking and manufacturing, but is now also closely associated with the production of lithium-ion batteries. Interestingly, these batteries actually contain 10 to 30 times more graphite than lithium.

Tesla’s gigafactory and policy of sourcing materials from North America is playing a significant role in driving demand for US-produced graphite. The company is planning to add additional gigafactories in the coming years, and other manufacturers are following suit. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, at the end of 2017, 26 battery cell plants were due to either expand capacity or come online by 2021.
Another potential graphite demand source is the US government via the US Department of Defense’s stockpile requirements, which includes materials like graphite. While recent reports show no graphite shortfall, the stockpile requirements illustrate the importance of US-produced graphite when it comes to national defense.

It’s important to note that graphite demand changes based on the type of graphite. Flake, amorphous, vein and synthetic graphite differ in their uses, and when it comes to the emerging battery market, graphite sources also have to be high in purity.

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