China’s dominance in natural graphite production extended further in 2025, with output hitting 850 thousand tonnes — equivalent to 67.2% of the world’s total of 1,265 thousand tonnes. The share has grown steadily from 60.4% in 2010, USGS data shows, as production outside China slipped from 445 thousand tonnes to just 415 thousand tonnes over the same period.
Fifteen years of rising control
From 2010 to 2025, China’s graphite output increased by 170 thousand tonnes, while the rest of the world registered a net decline of 30 thousand tonnes. The global total rose from 1,125 thousand tonnes to 1,265 thousand tonnes, entirely driven by China’s expansion. In 2010, non-China producers still accounted for 39.6% of supply; by 2025 that had shrunk to 32.8%.
Why the gap is widening
Many graphite mines outside China face higher costs or are in early-stage development, while China benefits from integrated battery supply chains. The data does not capture synthetic graphite, but natural flake and spherical graphite are essential for lithium-ion battery anodes, and China’s control over processing is even larger than its share of mine output. The stagnation in non-China production likely reflects sluggish investment and permitting hurdles in competing jurisdictions.
What the numbers don’t show
The USGS figures cover only natural graphite mining, not synthetic, and omit downstream processing. Industry estimates suggest China’s effective control over battery-grade anode material exceeds 90%. The 415 thousand tonnes produced outside China includes amorphous graphite from countries like Brazil and Mozambique, but much of that needs upgrading. This concentration has strategic implications for electric vehicle supply chains.
- China’s output: 850 thousand tonnes in 2025, up from 680 thousand tonnes in 2010.
- World total: 1,265 thousand tonnes in 2025, of which China supplied 67.2%.
- Rest of world: 415 thousand tonnes, down from 445 thousand tonnes in 2010.
- Share shift: China’s share rose from 60.4% to 67.2% over 15 years.
While the data confirms a clear trend, it leaves open questions about the resilience of supply chains outside China. Efforts in the US and Europe to boost domestic graphite production have yet to materially alter the global balance. Unless new mines come online, China’s share could remain above two-thirds for the foreseeable future.
Source: USGS · 2026-06-25T08:45:31.394Z
