Graphite firms integrate European battery supply chain
Graphite mining firms are developing an integrated supply chain in Europe, in response to rising demand from electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and EU concerns about critical mineral supply.
Much of the focus in the EV market remains on the lithium supply chain, but graphite is also significant for battery production. Historically, around 70pc has been mined in China, and close to 100pc of the anode precursor material used in lithium-ion batteries is processed there. China became a net importer of graphite in 2019, with the opening of Australia-based Syrah Resources' Balama mine in Mozambique in the second half of the year.
Natural graphite is produced in China and Africa at lower cost with higher energy capacity for batteries, while synthetic graphite produced elsewhere has higher production costs and lower capacity, but a longer cycle life. Producers of EV materials tend to use a blend of the two. Flake concentrate is processed into 99.95pc high-purity spherical graphite and fines suitable for battery manufacturing.
As EV sales continue to accelerate outside China, the world's largest market, demand for graphite supply outside of China is also increasing. The production of 1GWh of lithium-ion battery capacity requires 400t of graphite. Global natural graphite production amounts to around 750,000 t/yr, according to mine developer Northern Graphite, while long-term demand is expected to exceed supply. Chinese state-owned metals trading firm MinMetals forecasts a large natural graphite deficit in 2025.
Graphite mining developers are looking to reduce reliance on China, building plants in Europe to integrate the supply chain from mining through to anode production. Automotive manufacturers prefer to have suppliers in geographical proximity to meet just-in-time deliveries, which is driving the construction of large-scale lithium-ion EV battery plants in Europe. Locating anode plants in Europe further localises the supply chain.
The EU kept graphite on a critical raw materials list updated earlier this month, reflecting its importance in EV battery production. The EU imports 98pc of the graphite it uses, with 47pc imported from China, compared with a combined 10pc from Norway and Romania.
Europe's EV registrations approached 400,000 in January-June, up by 61.5pc on the year, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) show, while petrol and diesel car registrations dropped by more than 45pc.
Plans to add 557 GWh/yr of battery manufacturing capacity in Europe by 2024 will require an additional 450,000 t/yr of anode material, according to Australia-based mining company Mineral Commodities.
Mineral Commodities is building an active anode material plant in Norway to supply European battery plants. The facility will initially produce 10,000 t/yr of coated spherical graphite and fines from flake supplied by its Skaland mine in Norway from 2023. It plans to add two 20,000 t/yr modules to process concentrate from its Munglinup mine in Australia when it begins output in 2024.
The plant will operate an alternative process to the typical hydrofluoric acid purification used in graphite refining, which has deterred production outside China because of its environmental impact.
Australia-based Talga Resources, which is focused on European graphite projects, is building a 19,000 t/yr coated anode plant in Sweden to supply the European EV manufacturing chain from 2023. The plant will process flake from the company's Vittangi mine in Sweden, which will produce 22,000 t/yr from 2021. Talga has revised up its resource estimate in response to increasing demand for graphite in batteries, with Europe the fastest-growing market, the company said.
Norwegian silicon and carbon producer Elkem is building a pilot plant to produce anode materials that is scheduled for completion in early 2021. The pilot will evaluate the viability of its large-scale plant project, Northern Recharge.
Graphite producers outside Europe are also targeting the market. Syrah Resources is assessing the feasibility of producing 10,000 t/yr of anode material at its plant in the US and scaling up to 40,000 t/yr. Syrah cites Europe as well as the US in its plans to provide an alternative to the Asian supply chain.
Australia-based EcoGraf is planning to become fully integrated, with its Epanko graphite mine in Tanzania due to produce 60,000 t/yr of flake, and an anode plant in Australia planned to start production at 5,000 t/yr, scaling up to 20,000 t/yr by 2022. EcoGraf said it is positioning to respond to the investment in European battery capacity, with the EU having committed €3.2bn to support supply chain development.
EcoGraf has qualified high-purity fines with European customers and signed a 10-year agreement with Germany's Thyssenkrupp Materials Trading. The agreement covers the sale of 50pc of planned output of purified spherical graphite and by-product fines from the plant. In the longer term, EcoGraf plans additional processing facilities in Europe and North America.
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China's Hunan Yuneng to build Spain battery LFP plant
China's Hunan Yuneng to build Spain battery LFP plant
Beijing, 24 April (Argus) — Chinese battery cathode producers have continued to expand investment in the overseas market, with the country's largest lithium iron phosphate (LFP) producer Hunan Yuneng planning to build a plant in Spain. Yuneng plans to invest 982mn yuan ($135.5mn) to build a 50,000 t/yr LFP production plant in Spain's Extremadura region. The firm aims to complete the site construction in 15 months after obtaining approval from the authorities. It will establish a subsidiary Yuneng International (Spain) New Energy Battery Material to develop this project. It did not disclose more details such as the launch dates. "This project is to strengthen the company's position in the global market and meet demand from overseas consumers, on the back of growing demand for LFP cathodes in the overseas market driven by the development of new energy vehicles outside China, especially in Europe," Yuneng said. Yuneng produced 504,400t of LFP cathodes in 2023, up by 50pc from a year earlier, with sales also rising by 56pc to 506,800t over the same period. It has achieved a nameplate capacity of 700,000 t/yr for LFP as of the end of 2023. It is also expanding capacity for another emerging battery cathode material, lithium manganese iron phosphate, which has higher energy density and allows for a longer driving range in electric vehicles (EVs), better performance in winter temperatures, and has lower manufacturing costs compared with LFP. Overseas expansions A growing number of Chinese battery cathode firms have accelerated their investment in overseas production projects, such as in France, Morocco and South Korea , to diversify resource origins and meet market entry conditions to the US required by the Inflation Reduction Act, and to cope with restrictions on key battery materials in the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act. Argus forecasts total demand for EV battery cathode material will reach 7.7mn t by 2034, from only 1mn t in 2022, with LFP expected to continue to take up the bigger share compared with ternary battery cathodes. Argus -assessed costs for cathode active material LFP were $13.95/kwh on 23 April, up from $12.31/kwh at the start of this year. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Inversión en autos eléctricos en México crecerá
Inversión en autos eléctricos en México crecerá
Mexico City, 23 April (Argus) — Las inversiones en México en ensamblaje de vehículos eléctricos (EV) y cadenas de suministro alcanzaron un máximo histórico en 2023 y se espera que crezcan en 2024, a pesar de una reciente desaceleración de la demanda global de EV y las próximas elecciones presidenciales. Se realizaron 96 inversiones en México durante 2023 en vehículos eléctricos y gastos relacionados con la electromovilidad, que alcanzaron los $5,600 millones, según el último informe de electromovilidad de la empresa mexicana de investigación Directorio Automotriz (DA). La empresa espera que esto se expanda en 11pc a $6,200 millones en 2024. Las expectativas de crecimiento global se han moderado para los vehículos eléctricos, pero DA señaló que la trayectoria sigue siendo positiva con proyecciones para las ventas globales de EV en 13.3 millones de unidades vendidas este año frente a los 9.6 millones vendidos en 2023. El año comenzó con varios anuncios de inversión. En febrero, Volkswagen dijo que invertirá $942 millones en su centro de electromovilidad de Puebla para agregar producción de EV. Magna, una empresa de piezas estructurales de EV, invertirá $166 millones para suministrar el complejo de General Motors en Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila. Seojin Mobility de Corea planea una inversión de hasta $260 millones para una planta de montaje de motores eléctricos en Escobedo, cerca de Monterrey, Nuevo León, con planes de completarla en febrero de 2025. Hay más anuncios de inversiones relacionadas con los vehículos eléctricos en el horizonte a finales de este año para empresas chinas como BYD, el principal competidor global de Tesla, así como Chirey Motors y SAIC, afirmó DA. El factor político El momento político en el país es importante, con elecciones presidenciales el 2 de junio y leyes electorales que limitan la participación de funcionarios gubernamentales en cualquier anuncio de inversión importante o evento relacionado desde el 1 de marzo. La perspectiva de la fabricación de automóviles chinos en suelo mexicano también está provocando nerviosismo entre los grupos comerciales estadounidenses que afirman que las empresas chinas están utilizando México como centro de representación para evitar aranceles. Aunque EE. UU. tiene un arancel de 27.5pc sobre los vehículos eléctricos chinos, incluso si se fabrican en suelo mexicano, las importaciones desde México de EV construidos con piezas chinas solo pagan un arancel de 2.5pc. "Pekín ya está utilizando a México como puerta trasera para eludir los aranceles de las importaciones a EE. UU. y está siguiendo el mismo plan de juego que casi destruyó las industrias del acero y solar de EE. UU.", dijo la Alianza para la Fabricación Estadounidense (AAM, por sus siglas en ingles) en un informe a finales de febrero. La presión sobre el gobierno de EE. UU. para tomar medidas está aumentando, con la presidencia y muchos asientos del congreso en juego en las elecciones de noviembre. A finales de 2023, en México había 262 empresas registradas relacionadas con el ensamblaje, la producción y la venta de vehículos eléctricos, según DA. Esta cifra se expandió en 19.6pc solo en los últimos cuatro meses, de acuerdo con la misma información. México podría producir 214,040 vehículos eléctricos en 2024, un aumento de 96pc comparado con 2023, luego de un crecimiento de 38pc el año pasado en 2022, estima DA. El principal anuncio hasta la fecha relacionado con los vehículos eléctricos en México sigue siendo el que hizo Tesla el 1 de marzo. La Gigafactoría México podría atraer hasta $15 mil millones, incluyendo inversiones adicionales. Pero el progreso en la Gigafactoría ha sido lento, luego de que Tesla no participó en una ceremonia en febrero, organizada por el gobernador del estado. Grupos ecologistas también se han quejado de su posible impacto en el suministro de agua en la región propensa a la sequía. Aunque la inversión en vehículos eléctricos está ganando terreno debido a factores como el nearshoring (relocalización de las cadenas de suministro más cerca de los mercados finales), no se garantiza un crecimiento continuo. La agencia de calificación Moody's ha mencionado recientemente una desaceleración global en inversiones como en las calificaciones de Nemak de México, líder en la fabricación de carcasas y soportes de aluminio para baterías de litio utilizadas en vehículos eléctricos. Mientras tanto, las ventas nacionales de vehículos eléctricos e híbridos en México continúan expandiéndose, subiendo en 75pc año tras año hasta 7,442 en enero, representando 6.6pc de todas las ventas nacionales de automóviles en el mes, según los datos de la agencia de estadísticas Inegi. Por James Young Planes recientes de inversión en EV y electromovilidad en México Anunciado Compañía Proyecto Inversión Ubicación Feb 23 Stellantis Producción de la van de carga EV RAM ProMaster 200 Saltillo, Coahuila Marzo 23 Tesla and OEM suppliers Tesla Gigafactoría e inversiones asociadas 15,000 Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon Marzo 23 Jetour Planta de ensamblaje de vehículos híbridos y de combustión interna 3,000 Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila Feb 24 Volkswagen Centro estratégico para EV 942 Puebla Marzo 24 Magna Agregar dos divisiones para partes de EV 166 El bajío Marzo 24 BMW Construir planta de ensamblaje de baterías para EV 849 San Luis Potosí Marzo 24 Seojin Mobility Construir planta de motores para EV 260 Sonora Abril 24* ZF Group Centro de I+D en electromovilidad 200 Monterrey, Nuevo León — Anuncios de la compañías *Abierto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil 1Q tallow exports triple on long-term contracts
Brazil 1Q tallow exports triple on long-term contracts
Sao Paulo, 22 April (Argus) — Brazilian beef tallow exports totaled 73,930 metric tonnes (t) in the first quarter, a three-fold increase from the same three-month period in 2023 on rising demand. Almost 93pc of outflows between January and March were shipped to the US, according to data from Brazil's trade ministry. Long-term contracts explain the rising flow of exports, even though spot market arbitrage was closed throughout the first quarter (see chart) . The price of tallow in the Paranagua and Santos ports was $960/t fob on 19 April, keeping the arbitrage closed to US Gulf coast buyers, where the reference product was at $901/t on a delivered inland basis. Brazilian tallow is also negotiated at a premium against soybean oil, which closed at $882/t fob Paranagua on 19 April. This scenario has been observed since the 1 December 2023 start of Argus ' tallow export price assessment. Historically, vegetable oil in Brazil was traded at a discount to tallow, but strong demand has boosted the price of animal fat. Some biodiesel plants have been purchasing used cooking oil (UCO) or pork fat as an alternative. In 2023, there were doubts about whether the outflow of tallow from Brazil would be constant. Market participants now believe that the 2024 start of operations at new renewable diesel refineries in the US should sustain exports. Local suppliers that have already signed supply guarantee contracts — some up to three years — with American buyers are also considering export opportunities with Asia, including a new renewable diesel plant in Singapore that could receive Brazilian cargoes. Expansion projects are propelling US demand, including work that would bring capacity at Marathon Petroleum's Martinez Renewables plants in California to 2.35mn m³/y (40,750 b/d)and the Phillips 66 Rodeo unit in northern Californiato 3mn m³/y. These and other new projects will increase annual US demand for tallow by 5mn t. Maintenance on the horizon Maintenance at US refineries has Brazilian sellers bracing for a short-term drop in prices. Between May and June the Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) unit in Port Arthur, Texas, will shut down for maintenance, a stoppage that could impact demand for Brazilian inputs. Market participants have already observed a slight increase in domestic tallow supply, a change they attribute to maintenance at DGD. The advance of the soybean crop in Argentina is also expected to increase the supply of feedstocks to North American plants, as some refineries are returning to soybean oil after a hiatus of several years. The soybean oil quote on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) is an important reference for the price of tallow. By Alexandre Melo Renewable feedstocks in Brazil on fob basis R/t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU wheat yield forecasts rise
EU wheat yield forecasts rise
New York, 22 April (Argus) — Warm weather improved forecasted wheat yields in the EU, according to the latest Monitoring Agricultural Resources (Mars) report from the European Commission (EC). In the April Mars report, the EC cited warm spring temperatures as well as adequate water supplies as the main reasons for its increased yields forecast for the 2024-25 marketing year. In Spain and Portugal forecast yields were increased for durum wheat. The EC anticipates soft wheat yields at 5.93t/ha, compared with 5.91t/ha in the prior estimate. Similarly, durum wheat estimated yields stand at 3.47t/ha compared with 3.44t/h in the prior estimate. By Eduardo Gonzalez Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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