China’s anode producer Shanshan has said it will invest EUR 1.28 billion ($1.35 billion) to build a synthetic graphite anode facility in Finland, the second investment by a Chinese anode company in Europe this year. The facility is set to have a nameplate capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year of anodes, constructed in two phases […]
> The world’s second largest producer of anode materials, Ningbo Shanshan, is under severe financial strain amid falling profits and missed debt repayments. The Chinese company is expected to account for 14% of global anode active material production in 2024, according to Benchmark’s Anode Forecast. “After record-breaking profits in 2021, Shanshan aggressively expanded into the new […]
> Improved demand from battery synthetic graphite anode producers and low inventories at the supply level saw prices of petroleum-based coke (pet coke) rise 3% this month following a 16% price drop last month, as assessed by Benchmark. A growing preference from anode producers to purchase pet coke over the more expensive needle pet coke also […]
> Following the conclusion of a formal public consultation, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is modifying the specification of its high energy anode material grades to include a minimum charging rate, relevant for EV applications. This modification to the methodology for two of the existing grades in the Benchmark Anode Price Assessment begins from 15 October 2025. Two […]
> Since January 2025, 108GWh of LFP production capacity has been announced in North America through to 2030, bringing the total to 281GWh. These announcements have been driven by the increasing importance of the BESS industry in the US, as tax credits for EVs have been phased out. How is future capacity changing? The new capacity […]
> The UK currently has no operating lithium extraction facilities. However, there are ambitious plans to develop this industry, with 97,000 tonnes LCE per year of nameplate capacity in the pipeline at various stages of funding and development. Direct lithium extraction (DLE) from geothermal brines accounts for 60% of this pipeline, according to Benchmark’s Lithium Forecast. […]
> Chinese anode producer Shinzoom is looking to build an integrated anode material facility in Morocco as overcapacity in China drives a search for overseas markets. Shinzoom, also known as Hunan Zhongke, says its total planned investment for the Moroccan plant will not exceed RMB 5 billion ($690 million), with annual capacity to be 100,000 tonnes. […]
> The average price of synthetic graphite anode material has fallen below that of natural graphite anode for the first time in over three years, pushing cell makers to increasingly switch to the more affordable option. Average prices of synthetic graphite anode material have fallen 18% year-on-year in June to $4,738 per tonne, the lowest level […]
> Oil-major ExxonMobil is expanding its footprint in the battery supply chain after reaching an agreement to acquire Superior Graphite, in a deal that includes the latter’s planned 12ktpa synthetic graphite facility in Kentucky, where commercial production is slated for 2029. Although it represents Exxon’s first direct foray into synthetic graphite production, the oil-giant is developing […]