Graphite Material Demand Analysis

Graphite material is an inorganic non-metallic material with excellent performance and is one of the key industries for the development of strategic emerging industries in China. China’s graphite material resources are abundant, widely distributed, and the grades are large. The domestic graphite material deep processing industry is mainly distributed in the eastern region and has an industrial scale. With the industrial upgrading, the application fields of graphite material deep-processed products have been further expanded, and the number of demand has continued to increase.

In the future, the demand for graphite material in traditional industries such as iron and steel smelting, metal casting, lubricants, chemicals, glass ceramics, inks and pencils in China is basically at the current level. It is expected that the demand for graphite material in the chemical energy storage industry will increase the most. Flake graphite material is the main raw material for the production of nano-graphite material and graphene at low cost. With the continuous improvement of graphene preparation technology and application technology, the demand for flake graphite material is increasing.

Traditional industries such as metallurgical machinery will remain an important market for graphite material consumption.

Metallurgical refractory materials are the traditional consumption of graphite material in China, accounting for about 40% of total graphite material consumption. In recent years, although the steel industry has been affected by the state’s efforts to resolve overcapacity and other related policies, steel production and consumption have maintained a steady growth trend. It is estimated that by 2020, China’s steel output will remain at 7.7 to 870 million tons, consuming about 280,000 tons of crystalline graphite material.

The metallurgical electrode and foundry industry are also the key traditional consumption areas of graphite material, mainly used for smelting electrodes, steel and copper, aluminum and other non-ferrous metal casting mold coatings. In recent years, the foundry industry has developed steadily. The total production capacity of the foundry industry has remained at around 50 million tons from 2018 to 2020, and the demand for graphite material will reach 200,000 tons in 2020.

The demand for graphite material in other traditional industries such as lubricants and pencil manufacturing will remain stable, with annual demand remaining at around 20,000 tons.

The development of new materials industry will bring a broad market space for graphite material

Graphite material is an indispensable strategic resource for the development of high-tech, new and sophisticated technologies in modern industry and national defense. With the advancement of science and technology, the application field of graphite material has been continuously expanded, especially in the field of new energy and aerospace materials, graphite material products play an irreplaceable role.

It is estimated that by 2020, the consumption of flexible graphite material sheet will reach 40,000 tons on the basis of the development of machinery and chemical industry; the fuel cell bipolar plate material will consume 10,000 tons of graphite material; EDM, casting mold, steel or copper Graphite material consumption in continuous casting, direct single crystal silicon furnace or smelting precious metals, high purity materials, rockets, and missile technology will reach 60,000 tons; graphite material emulsion lubricant consumption will reach 12,500 tons; brake linings The consumption of graphite material in other industries such as sealing coating materials will reach 100,000 tons; the consumption of graphite material paper heat dissipation materials will reach 20,000 tons.

The development of new energy industry will become a new growth point for the consumption of graphite material products

Graphite material is one of the main raw materials for anode materials of new energy lithium-ion batteries. According to industry experts, graphite material as the main raw material for the production of anode materials is irreplaceable in the next 20 years. China proposes that electric vehicles will account for 10% of all transportation vehicles in 2020. Mass production of new energy vehicle batteries will greatly promote the development of the graphite material industry. At that time, the annual output of China’s automobiles will reach 4 million, with 2 batteries per car, 20kg of negative materials for each battery, and 160,000 tons of graphite material anode materials for 4 million electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, including natural graphite material anodes. The material accounts for 50%, and the natural graphite material anode material consumes about 80,000 tons of graphite material. Other small lithium-ion batteries such as laptops and mobile phones are expected to require 20,000 tons of graphite material. Therefore, by 2020, the amount of graphite material required for the natural graphite material lithium ion anode material is 100,000 tons.

The new materials industry is the commanding height of international economic competition and a strategic leading industry for the national economy. The development of the graphite material industry is an important part of promoting the development of the new materials industry, and is also a key measure to promote the transformation of the economic development mode and the adjustment of the industrial structure in the traditional materials industry. Recognizing the development status of China’s graphite material industry and reasonably predicting the key demand areas and demand in the future will help government departments to formulate more targeted industrial support policies and development measures, and accelerate the development and production of graphite material industry in China and promote non-metallic minerals. It is of practical significance to promote the development and efficient use of resources and promote the all-round development and progress of China’s high-tech industries and traditional industries.

Author:Bai Yunfeng, Qin Jie, Meng Xin