India is amid owners of the world largest reserves of natural graphite. Its deposits of the material were estimated at 11 million tonnes in 2011.
The country was also defined as the second most prominent manufacturer of graphite around the globe in 2011. Local companies produced 140,000 tonnes during the year. The figure stayed unchanged from 2010.
The Indian demand for the material is high. Graphite buyers based in the country consumed approximately 150,000 tonnes in 2011. The same demand level was observed in the preceding year.
Graphite supply and demand trends in India, 2006-2011, metric tons
Domestic graphite traders forced to obtain certain volumes of the material from foreign companies in order to balance the market. They imported almost 14,400 tonnes in 2010. Most overseas deliveries were from China.
Representatives of the Indian graphite sector are engaged in the export activity, as well. Graphite exports of the country are much lower than imports. For instance, they were slightly over 1,400 tonnes in 2009, while import volumes reached 11,100 tonnes in the same year.
Global natural graphite reserves were evaluated at 77 million tonnes in 2011. The largest deposits of the material are located in China. They are estimated at 55 million tonnes.
World structure of Graphite reserves, 2011
The world mine output of graphite amounted to around 930,000 tonnes in 2011, down by 200,000 tonnes from 2009.
China’s stake in the world mine production was the highest one in 2011. Its output was 600,000 tonnes.
Prominent volumes of graphite were also produced in India, Brazil and North Korea. The countries generated around 250,000 tonnes in total. The amount was the same in 2010.
Global graphite companies are expected to make 960,000 tonnes of the material in 2012. The yearly output will probably exceed 1 million tonnes by 2016.
More information on the Graphite market can be found in the report Graphite Market Review
CONTACTS
Merchant Research & Consulting Ltd.
Julia Hill, Sales Manager
Tel: +44 20 7558 8740
Fax: +44 (20) 7900-3970
E-mail: [email protected]