About Graphite

Graphite Highlights

• One of two natural carbon polymers (diamonds)
• Highest natural strength/stiffness of any material
• Corrosion and heat resistant
• Excellent conductor of heat and electricity
• High lubricity
• Lightest weight of all reinforcements

Growing industrial demand from emerging economies

Demand growth from new applications

• Li ion batteries, fuel cells, nuclear power

Chinese supply concerns (70% of world production)

EU and USA have named graphite a supply critical mineral

Graphite Uses

• 5% annual growth rate this decade
• Driven by Asian steel and auto markets
• Major end uses
  • Steel & refractories(41%)
  • Carbon brushes and batteries (21%)
  • Automotive parts (14%)
  • Lubricants (14%)
  • Other (10%)

Lithium Ion Batteries

• Graphite is the anode material -no substitutes
• It takes 20-30 times more graphite than Li (by weight) to make Li ion batteries
• Current Li ion battery demand 30,000 tpyand growing strongly, mainly portable devices
• Li ion batteries in cars will lead to rapid demand growth (2kg of graphite in HEV, 25-50kg in EV)

Graphite Prices 2011

Graphite Demand