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This table presents detailed data on the global production of natural graphite, categorized by country or locality and further divided into types such as amorphous, crystalline flake, and vein or lump graphite. This information is crucial for understanding the supply dynamics of a mineral that plays a vital role in various industrial applications, including battery manufacturing, refractories, lubricants, and steelmaking. Tracking production trends helps stakeholders assess market availability, identify leading producers, and anticipate shifts in supply that could impact prices and industrial strategies worldwide.
Analysis of the data reveals that China remains the dominant producer, with total graphite output reaching approximately 1.21 million metric tons in 2023, up from 1.16 million metric tons in 2022. Notably, China's crystalline flake graphite production increased to about 1.03 million metric tons in 2023, maintaining its position as the largest single source globally. Other significant producers include Mozambique, which reported an estimated 98,000 metric tons in 2023, and Brazil, with 66,346 metric tons, both showing fluctuations over the five-year period. India exhibited a remarkable upward trend in crystalline flake production, rising from 6,500 metric tons in 2021 to 25,000 metric tons in 2023. Meanwhile, Madagascar’s production decreased sharply from an estimated 116,700 metric tons in 2022 to 63,000 metric tons in 2023. Overall, global natural graphite production remained relatively stable around 1.53 million metric tons in 2023, with crystalline flake graphite comprising the majority of output at 1.33 million metric tons.
| TABLE 9 | ||||||||||||
| NATURAL GRAPHITE: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | ||||||||||||
| (Metric tons) | ||||||||||||
| Country or locality | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |||||||
| Austria, amorphouse | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |||||||
| Brazil, crystalline flake2 | 81770 | 56053 | r | 67271 | r | 69420 | r | 66346 | ||||
| Canada, crystalline flake3 | 4332 | r | 16239 | r | 9290 | r | 2530 | r | 5470 | |||
| China: | ||||||||||||
| Amorphous | 473600 | 4 | 170000 | 179000 | 174000 | r | 181000 | |||||
| Crystalline flake | 711400 | 4 | 920000 | 4 | 1010000 | 987000 | r | 1030000 | ||||
| Total | 1185000 | 1090000 | 1189000 | 1161000 | r | 1211000 | ||||||
| Germany, crystalline flakee, 5 | 207 | 108 | 181 | 185 | r | 180 | ||||||
| India:e, 6 | ||||||||||||
| Amorphous | 600 | r | 600 | 600 | r | 600 | r | 600 | ||||
| Crystalline flake | 5600 | r | 5200 | r | 6500 | r | 17000 | r | 25000 | |||
| Total | 6200 | r | 5800 | r | 7100 | r | 17600 | r | 25600 | |||
| Korea, North:e | ||||||||||||
| Amorphous | 3600 | 3600 | 3600 | 3600 | 3600 | |||||||
| Crystalline flake | 4500 | 4500 | 4500 | 4500 | 4500 | |||||||
| Total | 8100 | 8100 | 8100 | 8100 | 8100 | |||||||
| Korea, Republic of:e, 7 | ||||||||||||
| Amorphous | -- | -- | 7812 | 16758 | 9615 | |||||||
| Crystalline flake | 302 | 3052 | 10485 | 7040 | -- | |||||||
| Total | 302 | 3052 | 18297 | 23798 | 9615 | |||||||
| Madagascar, crystalline flake8 | 53400 | r | 48500 | r | 91100 | r | 116700 | r | 63000 | e | ||
| Mexico, amorphous9 | 1591 | r | 1461 | r | 1778 | r | 1976 | r | 1297 | |||
| Mozambique, crystalline flake10 | 113803 | 18159 | 77116 | 165932 | 98000 | e | ||||||
| Norway, crystalline flake11 | 9780 | 5549 | 6293 | 10380 | 6483 | |||||||
| Russia, crystalline flake12 | 17500 | 13 | 12900 | 13 | 16200 | 13 | 18800 | r | 15000 | e | ||
| Sri Lanka, vein | 2648 | 1800 | r, e | 3388 | 14 | 3096 | r, 14 | 2998 | 14 | |||
| Tanzania, crystalline flake | 10900 | 2490 | 3230 | 6120 | e | 13200 | e | |||||
| Turkey, amorphous15 | 1000 | 1520 | r | 2830 | r | 2770 | r | 2800 | ||||
| Ukraine, crystalline flake | 16000 | e | 10000 | e | 10000 | e | 846 | r, 16 | 1670 | 16 | ||
| Vietnam, crystalline flakee | 3500 | 3700 | 1200 | 500 | 2500 | |||||||
| Grand total | 1520000 | 1290000 | r | 1510000 | r | 1610000 | r | 1530000 | ||||
| Of which: | ||||||||||||
| Amorphous | 481000 | r | 178000 | 196000 | 200000 | 199000 | ||||||
| Crystalline flake | 1030000 | 1110000 | r | 1310000 | r | 1410000 | r | 1330000 | ||||
| Vein or lump | 2650 | 1800 | r | 3390 | 3100 | r | 3000 | |||||
eEstimated. rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through August 5, 2024. All data are reported unless otherwise noted; grand totals may include estimated data. Grand totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Source: National Mining Agency.
3Source: Natural Resources Canada.
4Source: China Nonmetallic Mining Industry Association.
5Source: The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources.
6Indian marketable production is estimated to be 10% to 20% of run-of-mine production.
7Source: Korean Geological Survey.
8Source: Bank of Madagascar.
9Source: National Institute of Statistics and Geography.
10Source: National Institute of Statistics.
11Source: Mineral Commodities Ltd.
12About 48% amorphous and 52% crystalline flake graphite.
13Source: Federal Agency for Mineral Resources.
14Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
15Turkish marketable production averaged approximately 5% of run-of-mine production. Almost all is for domestic consumption.
16Source: Volt Resources Ltd.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Graphite statistics | Mineral commodity prices