China’s restriction on graphite exports could stymie US EV makers
An analyst said it’s “the last thing that anybody wants to see.”
The US transition to electric vehicles is about to hit another speed bump, courtesy of new restrictions from China.
On Oct. 20, the Chinese government implemented new export controls on graphite, a key material for EV batteries.
China supplies about one-third of US graphite imports, according to the US Geological Survey, and it’s the world’s leading graphite producer. In 2021, it produced about 79% of the world’s graphite. Meanwhile, North America produced only 1.2% of the global supply—though that’s likely to increase with graphite mining projects in the works in Alabama and Alaska.
For Graphex Technologies, a Hong Kong-based company that processes graphite for anode material, the new restrictions increase the urgency to get operations in North America up and running, CEO John DeMaio told Tech Brew. Graphex is preparing to open a processing plant in suburban Detroit as part of a push to localize production there.
“It validates what we were doing already, which was bringing our expertise over here and building out production capabilities,” DeMaio said. “What I hope it does is accelerate that, not only for us but for the rest of the whole ecosystem.”
This is a Snippet, to continue reading this post, please visit TechBrew.
Related Posts
- Will designating China as an “entity of concern” spur the development of US supply chains?
- U.S. Limits China’s Ability to Benefit From Electric Vehicle Subsidies
- China’s restriction on graphite exports could stymie US EV makers
- EVs with Chinese parts won’t qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit from 2024