All fact sheets · The Strata Memo
Graphite
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Photo Robert M. Lavinsky. “Graphite-233436.jpg.” CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons. File page
Chemical details
- State at room conditions
- Solid
- Melting point
- 3,823 K (3,550 °C)
- Boiling point
- 4,098 K (3,825 °C)
- Density
- 2.2670 g/cm³
- Common oxidation states
- +4, +2, -4
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.55
- Atomic radius
- 170 pm
- First ionization energy
- 11.260 eV
- Discovered
- Ancient
Graphite is a crystalline form of carbon, so these are carbon's properties.
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine, PubChem, Periodic Table of Elements (element Carbon) (current at retrieval)
On the USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Figures: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (data release, public domain). Estimates are USGS's; check the USGS chapter for notes. Each panel names its source; full citations are in the methodology source register.
Overview
The headline numbers: how much the U.S. depends on imports and how concentrated supply is.
How much does the U.S. import?
of U.S. graphite use was met by imports in 2025 (USGS net import reliance).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Graphite (Natural) (February 2026)
Did you know?
Abraham Gottlob Werner coined the name graphite in 1789, from the Greek word for "to write".
Checked against two independent sources. Verified 2026-10-26.
Sources: Wikipedia · University of Waterloo Earth Sciences Museum (Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA)
How concentrated is supply?
86% of world production comes from three countries (China, Madagascar, Tanzania). Highly concentrated.
Thirds of the bar: under 33%, 33 to 65%, 66% and over. Our own rule of thumb, not a USGS rating.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Graphite (Natural) (February 2026)
Supply
Who produces it, where the reserves are, where U.S. imports come from, and how U.S. supply has moved.
Who has it, and who digs it?
Where it is produced, 2025
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| China | 78% |
| Madagascar | 4% |
| Tanzania | 4% |
| Brazil | 4% |
| Mozambique | 3% |
| Russia | 1% |
Where the reserves are
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| China | 32% |
| Brazil | 24% |
| Madagascar | 9% |
| Mozambique | 8% |
| Tanzania | 6% |
| Russia | 5% |
Share of the world total as printed by USGS (rounded). Production and reserves are different things: reserves are what is economic to mine. Hover or focus a bar for its value, or switch to the table view.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Graphite (Natural) (February 2026)
Where U.S. imports come from
Choose a data set, then a view. A country keeps the same color in every chart on this page. Grey means other countries, or a country beyond the seven colors (always labeled). Hover or focus a mark for its value, or use the table view.
- China46%
- Canada13%
- Mozambique13%
- Mexico12%
- Other countries16%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| China | 46% | 46.0% |
| Canada | 13% | 13.0% |
| Mozambique | 13% | 13.0% |
| Mexico | 12% | 12.0% |
| Other countries | 16% | 16.0% |
Average share of U.S. imports of all forms, 2021–24, as printed by USGS (rounded, so shares may not sum to 100). Other countries are USGS's own grouping.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Graphite (Natural) (February 2026)
- China34% · $46.1M
- Indonesia26% · $35.1M
- Madagascar13% · $17.5M
- Canada11% · $14.6M
- Mozambique6% · $8.9M
- Mexico4% · $5.9M
- All other countries7% · $9.1M
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| China | 34% · $46.1M | 33.6% |
| Indonesia | 26% · $35.1M | 25.6% |
| Madagascar | 13% · $17.5M | 12.8% |
| Canada | 11% · $14.6M | 10.7% |
| Mozambique | 6% · $8.9M | 6.5% |
| Mexico | 4% · $5.9M | 4.3% |
| All other countries | 7% · $9.1M | 6.6% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 2504; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
- Indonesia31% · $180.3M
- China24% · $143.2M
- Korea, South12% · $69.8M
- France8% · $44.5M
- Spain7% · $39.6M
- Germany4% · $21.4M
- All other countries15% · $86.4M
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 31% · $180.3M | 30.8% |
| China | 24% · $143.2M | 24.5% |
| Korea, South | 12% · $69.8M | 11.9% |
| France | 8% · $44.5M | 7.6% |
| Spain | 7% · $39.6M | 6.8% |
| Germany | 4% · $21.4M | 3.6% |
| All other countries | 15% · $86.4M | 14.8% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 3801; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Price
Price, average unit value of imports, dollars per metric ton at foreign ports: Flake
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Graphite (Natural) (February 2026)
Trade and tariffs
Tariff codes and the countries behind U.S. imports and exports.
Trade codes and tariffs
| HTS code | What it covers | Normal rate | Column 2 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2504 | Natural graphite | Free | varies, 10%; 3.6¢/kg |
| 3801 | Artificial graphite; colloidal or semi-colloidal graphite; preparations based on graphite or other carbon in the form of pastes, blocks, plates or other semimanufactures | Free to 4.9% * | 10% to 45% |
Rates from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC, saved 2026-10-26). The normal rate is column 1 general; column 2 applies to countries without normal trade relations. A range means different products under the code have different rates. An asterisk means the schedule footnotes point to Chapter 99 additional-duty headings. Section 232, Section 301, emergency tariffs and antidumping or countervailing duties are set in separate notices and are not shown. Look up any code at hts.usitc.gov. These are the main codes for this mineral, not a complete list.
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, general and column 2 rates (edition current when saved)
U.S. trade by country
U.S. imports in 2025 by source country, code 3801
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | 31% · $180.3M |
| China | 24% · $143.2M |
| Korea, South | 12% · $69.8M |
| France | 8% · $44.5M |
| Spain | 7% · $39.6M |
| Germany | 4% · $21.4M |
U.S. exports in 2025 by destination, code 3801
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 17% · $34.1M |
| China | 11% · $22.7M |
| Canada | 11% · $21.6M |
| India | 8% · $15.4M |
| Czech Republic | 6% · $12.3M |
| Korea, South | 6% · $12.3M |
2504 Natural graphite
Top import sources China 34%, Indonesia 26%, Madagascar 13%
Top export destinations Mexico 28%, Canada 19%, Germany 17%
3801 Artificial graphite; collodial graphite & prep etc
Top import sources Indonesia 31%, China 24%, Korea, South 12%
Top export destinations Mexico 17%, China 11%, Canada 11%
U.S. Census Bureau International Trade API, saved 2026-10-26. Imports are general imports (customs value) and exports are total exports, in U.S. dollars. Duty collected is Census's calculated duty on imports for consumption. Figures cover every 10-digit product under the code, so they can include goods beyond this mineral, and the duty shown is not split into Section 232, Section 301 or antidumping duties. Bars show the largest code for each direction. Group rows such as the EU or OECD are left out so no country is counted twice.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports and exports by HS code and country (calendar 2025, and January to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Value chain and risk
Where in the chain the bottlenecks sit, and what other governments and sources say about supply risk.
Value chain: where the bottlenecks are
Mining bottleneck
The United States produced no natural graphite in 2025, while China produced an estimated 82% of the world's. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“In 2025, no natural graphite was produced domestically in the United States.”
“In 2025, China was the world’s leading natural graphite supplier, producing an estimated 82% of total world production.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
Five companies were developing U.S. graphite mining projects in 2025, in Alabama, Alaska, Montana and New York. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Five companies were considering or developing graphite-mining projects in the United States: two in Alabama, one in Alaska, one in Montana, and one in New York.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
Ore processing and primary recovery bottleneck
No natural graphite was produced in the United States in 2025 and the country relied on imports for all of its apparent consumption, with China the largest import source. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“In 2025, no natural graphite was produced domestically in the United States.”
“Net import reliance1 as a percentage of apparent consumption 100 100 100 100 100”
“Import Sources (2021–24): China,2 46%”
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (Graphite) (2026)
Refining and separation bottleneck
EIA says China processes over 90% of the world's graphite. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“China processes over 90% of the world's graphite”
Source: EIA Today in Energy, China dominates global trade of battery minerals (2025-05-21)
Metal, alloy and chemical bottleneck
Imports of graphite battery anode material came mostly from China (55%), Indonesia and South Korea in 2025, and rose sharply from 2024. (partly U.S.)
The source says
“Imports of graphite battery anode material, natural and synthetic, during the first 8 months of 2025 were 43,400 tons compared with 28,100 tons for the same period in 2024.”
“The leading sources in 2025 were China (55%), Indonesia (31%), and the Republic of Korea (14%).”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
Spherical purified graphite, the shaped material for battery anodes, is made in the United States by two companies, and at least eight more were considering plants. (partly U.S.)
The source says
“SPG was produced in the United States by two companies in Illinois and Louisiana.”
“At least eight other companies were considering SPG plants in the United States.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
China exported 37,400 tons of spherical purified graphite in the first nine months of 2025, 29% more than a year earlier; the United States received 11% of it. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“During the first 9 months of 2025, China exported 37,400 tons of spherical purified graphite (SPG), 29% more than the 29,100 tons exported during the same period in 2024.”
“The leading recipients of SPG from China in the first 9 months of 2025 were the Republic of Korea (40%), Indonesia (33%), Japan (16%), and the United States (11%).”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
Components and end use
Natural graphite goes into batteries, brake linings, lubricants, powdered metals, refractories and steelmaking, and into some defense materials. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“Natural graphite was widely used in batteries, brake linings, lubricants, powdered metals, refractory applications, and steelmaking, and was also incorporated into some defense-related materials and components.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
Recycling
USGS says graphite's abundance on the world market inhibits increased recycling. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“The abundance of graphite in the world market inhibits increased recycling efforts.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
Pilot. Summaries are ours, from official pages; each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. “Bottleneck” (orange dot) is shown only where the quote shows one country dominating the stage or the United States relying on imports for it. “No sourced data yet” means we have not found a source, not that the stage is unproblematic.
Mines, plants and partners
Named facilities with their operators and locations, as each source describes them on the date shown. 4 sourced entries for Graphite.
Mining
Syrah Resources Limited
Balama, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique · Status not stated
The source says
“Syrah Resources Limited (Syrah) - the parent company of the Vidalia Active Anode Material (AAM) processing facility and Balama graphite mine in Mozambique”
“Syrah, the owner of the strategically significant Balama graphite mine and the Vidalia processing facility in the United States”
Source: U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, DFC Opens Pathway to Secure Strategic Equity Interest in Syrah (2026-03-25)
Graphite One Inc. (through Graphite One (Alaska), Inc.)
Alaska, United States · Planned
The source says
“Graphite One Highlights Strategic Importance of Alaska's Graphite Creek Project”
“Graphite One is advancing a U.S.-based graphite supply-chain strategy anchored by the Graphite Creek Project and planned advanced graphite materials manufacturing in Ohio.”
Source: Graphite One Inc., Graphite One Highlights Strategic Importance of Alaska's Graphite Creek Project (Newswire) (2026-10-19)
Metal, alloy and chemical
Syrah Resources Limited
Vidalia, Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States · Operating
The source says
“At Vidalia, Syrah is operating a large-scale facility with an initial production capacity of 11.25ktpa AAM.”
“Location: Vidalia, Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States”
“The 11.25ktpa AAM facility at Vidalia commenced production in Q1 2024.”
Source: Syrah Resources, Vidalia Active Anode Material Facility (2026)
NOVONIX
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States · Status not stated
The source says
“NOVONIX’s Riverside facility, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is poised to become the first large-scale production site dedicated to high-performance synthetic graphite for the battery sector in North America”
Source: NOVONIX, Our Materials (2026)
A curated list, not a complete register: it shows facilities we could confirm in a source page, and a missing name means we have not sourced it, not that it does not exist. Each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. Partnerships are listed only where the source states them.
Geopolitics and supply risk
Who supplies it
China produced an estimated 82% of the world's natural graphite in 2025, and was the leading source of U.S. imports of graphite anode material (55%).
The source says
“In 2025, China was the world's leading natural graphite supplier, producing an estimated 82% of total world production.”
“The leading sources in 2025 were China (55%), Indonesia (31%), and the Republic of Korea (14%).”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
U.S. tariffs and duties
After a December 2024 petition, Commerce set preliminary antidumping duties of 93.50% and countervailing duties of 11.58% to 721.03% on graphite anode material from China.
The source says
“In December 2024, a group of graphite producers based in North America submitted a petition asking the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to review China's trade practices involving graphite active anode material (AAM).”
“In 2025, the DOC released its preliminary results, which set antidumping duties at 93.50% and countervailing duties ranging from 11.58% to 721.03% depending on the company.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Graphite (natural) (2026-02)
Summaries are ours, from official pages. Each quoted passage is checked against the saved source page. This is a curated list for the edition shown, not a complete or current record of every measure.
Policy and funding
Federal items we track for this mineral, each linked to its original.
Policy timeline
Tagged by AI from federal sources; each links to the original. How we label.
Source: U.S. federal sources (Federal Register, Grants.gov, DOE, Regulations.gov, DFC), Policy items tagged for Graphite (dates per item)
Federal awards already made
American Battery Technology Company · Department of Energy · $147.6M obligated · started 2025-01-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Graphite One (Alaska) Inc. · Department of Defense · $37.3M obligated · started 2023-07-14
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
American Energy Technologies Company · Department of Defense · $5M obligated · started 2026-07-09
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Axyde Analytics, LLC · Department of Defense · $5M obligated · started 2026-07-09
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
University of Kentucky Research Foundation, The · Department of Commerce · $2M obligated · started 2026-10-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
The 5 largest of 14 AI-tagged awards from USAspending (last 12 months, found by keyword; some are only loosely about this mineral). See all awards for Graphite.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, USAspending.gov: spending by award (contracts and grants, last 12 months) (award start dates per item)
Data tables
The USGS figures behind the charts. Click a column heading to sort.
Graphite (Natural): USGS tables
United States
| Measure | Unit | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption | percent | 100 | 100 |
| Production, mine | metric tons | — | — |
| Imports for consumption | metric tons | 73,900 | 79,000 |
| Exports | metric tons | 8,740 | 8,400 |
| Consumption, apparent | metric tons | 65,200 | 71,000 |
| Price, average unit value of imports, dollars per metric ton at foreign ports: Flake | dollars per metric ton | 1,050 | 1,000 |
| Price, average unit value of imports, dollars per metric ton at foreign ports: Lump and chip (Sri Lanka) | dollars per metric ton | 2,810 | 2,600 |
| Price, average unit value of imports, dollars per metric ton at foreign ports: Amorphous | dollars per metric ton | 535 | 470 |
World production (metric tons; top 6 of 19, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1,270,000 | 1,400,000 | 78% |
| Madagascar | 85,000 | 80,000 | 4% |
| Tanzania | 27,000 | 75,000 | 4% |
| Brazil | 58,000 | 65,000 | 4% |
| Mozambique | 39,000 | 60,000 | 3% |
| Russia | 20,000 | 25,000 | 1% |
World total 2025: 1,800,000 metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
World reserves (metric tons; top 6 of 19, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | 100,000,000 | 32% |
| Brazil | 74,000,000 | 24% |
| Madagascar | 27,000,000 | 9% |
| Mozambique | 25,000,000 | 8% |
| Tanzania | 18,000,000 | 6% |
| Russia | 14000000 | 5% |
World total 2025: 310,000,000 metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
U.S. import sources: All (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| China | 46 |
| Canada | 13 |
| Mozambique | 13 |
| Mexico | 12 |
| Other countries | 16 |
Note: USGS reports natural graphite only.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Graphite (Natural) (February 2026)