BKT research / Graphite sector research, page-676

perhaps evidence that ESG compliant, ex China sourced graphite mines are starting to be able to charge a premium
Price bi-furcation has been increasingly been part of the ESG discussion.

Reuters article below also notes that Benchmark will start publishing a sustainable lithium price that tracks what automakers have been willing to pay for ESG-friendly supplies of the white metal.

In regards to Blackrock financing status i thought the following from the article notable.

"Miners say the surcharges make investors more comfortable financing new projects, especially as Chinese rivals have been known to sell metals below prevailing market rates."
"Customers understand that there is going to a degree of pricing differential across different geographic markets and potentially different provenance of materials."


link to article https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/western-lithium-graphite-miners-boost-prices-esg-friendly-supply-2023-11-17/