China's graphite output reached 850 thousand tonnes in 2025, 67.2% of the global production, up from 60.4% in 2010; non-China output at 415 thousand t

China Data Portal (2026). Retrieved from https://chinadata.live/data/graphite-production-china-vs-world/.

From China 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.

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