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Graphite is a non-metallic mineral, a form of crystalline carbon which usually occurs in nature (natural graphite) as Amorphous, Flake or vein. It can also be produced synthetically from processing carbon material, typically petroleum coke, which is a by-product of oil refining. Graphite is non-toxic, chemically inert and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity with electrical capacity 1,000 times that of copper. Other impressive properties of graphite which makes it adept for several industrial applications include a high lubricity, high resistance to corrosion, and strength and ability to withstand extremely high temperatures.
Data Source: Mason Graphite
A major chunk of growth in demand for graphite is associated with the global steel industry, referring to the metallurgical applications. Of all the natural occurrences, flake graphite accounts for the largest share in the demand for graphite worldwide.
- Spherical Graphite
It is processed via fine grinding, purification, spheritisation and processing of flat flake into a concentrate and finds application in manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), for which the demand is expected to shoot up in the time to come.
The market for electric vehicles (EVs) is maturing and the utility storage market is expanding, resulting in increased demand for graphite used as anode material in LIBs, which utilises 7-10 times more graphite than lithium.
Currently, almost all of the worldâs demand for spherical graphite is being served by production in China, that is home to seven of the worldâs leading lithium ion mega factories, with Tesla Motorsâ USD 5 billion Gigafactory 1 in Nevada being the biggest capacity plant under construction, expected to reach its 35GWh capacity by 2020.
It is evident that EV revolution has kicked in and investments would most definitely increase in new LIB capacity by over $ 12 billion in 2020. While Chinaâs natural graphite production has hit a saturation point of late, it is an opportune time for high quality natural graphite suppliers to capitalise on the opportunity and gain the market share.
The demand for graphite used as an anode material is expected to rise more than 200% in the coming four years, as per the estimation by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI, Price Reporting Agency). Besides, BMI has also forecasted that the market for anode material, fed entirely by spherical graphite and synthetic graphite, is estimated to flourish to 250,000 tonnes per annum (from 80,000 tonnes per annum in 2015) by the end of 2020, with a potential to be as large as 400,000 tonnes per annum.
With demand being propelled by large expansions in the LIB industry from megawatt to gigawatt globally, BMI also estimates that ~360,000 tonnes of medium flake graphite would be required by the end of this decade to deliver spherical graphite.
According to UBS global auto analysts, EV sales are estimated to grow at a CAGR of 46% between 2020 and 2025 while as per Bloomberg, this growth will lead to EVs accounting for 35% of global car sales by 2040.
A forecast by Forbes suggests that the future of energy storage market is also attractive with falling market prices and favourable policies coming into effect.
- Expandable Graphite
Expandable Graphite, formed by keeping natural flake graphite in chromic acid, then concentrated sulfuric acid, leading to the expansion of graphite which, is pressed into sheets for creating graphite foil which is utilised in building consumer electronics, heat and corrosion resistant gaskets, flame retardants materials, and others.
The outlook for the expandable graphite market is also bright as demand for consumer electronic goods including smartphones, laptops and tablets is increasing at a fast pace. Besides, according to popular market analysts, the global demand for flame retardants is forecasted to rise by 4.6% per annum and the flame-retardant market is estimated to be valued at around USD 12.81 billion by 2021.
Thus, the current market climate for natural graphite along with the positive near- and long-term outlook is highly lucrative for graphite focussed companies, especially the coarse flake graphite producers. Volt Resources Limited (ASX: VRC) is one such company that has left no stones unturned to enter the growing graphite market and proactively preparing to move into production shortly.
Perth, Australia-based Volt Resources is actively exploring for and planning development activities at its flagship property Bunyu Graphite Project (100%-owned) located in south-east Tanzania which has the largest JORC Mineral Resource of 461Mt @ 4.9% TGC.
VRC aspires to be the top three global suppliers of natural graphite by 2020, with the mission to be the supplier of choice for high-quality super jumbo, jumbo and large flake graphite to emerging hi-tech growth industries.
Management Commentary on the Graphite Market Conditions
Read: Volt Resources Envisages Natural Graphite Supply Leader Position Through Bunyu Project By 2020
Stock Performance
On 8 November 2019, VRC was trading at AUD 0.012 on ASX, up by 9% as compared to its previous closing price (AEST: 3:05 PM). VRCâs market capitalisation stands at AUD 17.66 million, with 1.61 billion shares outstanding.
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