Graphite
EU import reliance for natural graphite is 99%. China processed about 94% of the world’s battery-grade graphite in 2025.
Figures
Graphite in four figures
EU import reliance
99%
net imports as a share of EU apparent consumption
Source: European Commission, 2023 study (2016 to 2020)
World processing
94%
China’s share of world battery-grade graphite output, 2025
Source: IEA 2026
Main EU source
40%
China. Next is Brazil with 13%.
Source: European Commission, 2023 study (2016 to 2020)
EU demand
79kt
of natural graphite a year, 2016 to 2020
Source: SCRREEN, graphite factsheet
Data as of 27 October 2026
Supply in Europe
Europe’s own supply
EU capacity as a share of EU natural graphite demand, 2016 to 2020.
- EU demand100%
- EU extraction capacityAbout 1%
- EU processing capacity0%
- EU recycling capacityAbout 3%
One grain is 1% of EU natural graphite demand. Source: European Court of Auditors, Special report 04/2026; SCRREEN. Mining and processing 2016 to 2020, recycling 2012 to 2016
Outlook
What comes next
- Projects due by 2030
- 6% of 2030 demand
- Known resources
- 151 years of EU demand, 156 with neighbouring countries
- EU Strategic Projects
- The Commission has selected 15 graphite projects in the EU: 11 in March 2025 and 4 in October 2026. Its June 2025 list outside the EU includes Norgraph in Norway.
Sources: SCRREEN; European Commission, IP/25/864 and IP/26/2113. Resources are not reserves.
Origin
Where graphite comes from
Use
Where graphite is used
Electric car
About
66kg
of graphite in a 75 kWh NMC battery
Source: IEA, The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions (2021)
Battery imports
€28.5bn
EU imports of lithium-ion batteries in 2025, 90% by value from China
Source: Eurostat Comext
Events
Events and measures
- Oct 2025
- China
Adds lithium batteries, cathode materials and synthetic graphite anode materials to its export controls. On 7 November 2025 it suspends them until 10 November 2026.
Source: MOFCOM, announcements No. 58 and No. 70 of 2025, reported by CIRS
- Jun 2025
- European Union
Selects Norgraph in Norway as a Strategic Project outside the EU.
Source: European Commission
- Dec 2023
- China
Exports of natural flake graphite and high-grade synthetic graphite need a licence.
Source: MOFCOM, Announcement No. 39 of 2023
- European Commission, Study on the critical raw materials for the EU (2023)
- European Court of Auditors, Special report 04/2026, Critical raw materials for the energy transition
- IEA, Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026
- SCRREEN, graphite factsheet
- IEA, The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions (2021)
- Eurostat Comext, extra-EU imports 2025
- European Commission, Strategic Projects, March 2025, June 2025 and October 2026
- MOFCOM and GACC, Announcement No. 39 of 2023; MOFCOM, announcements No. 58 and No. 70 of 2025
- CIRS, China temporarily suspends export controls on key raw materials, 12 November 2025
