Chinese natural graphite exports decrease 30% y-o-y in...

Chinese natural graphite exports decrease 30% y-o-y in February
05 April 2012
Decrease in exports but rise in value, Chinese Customs statistics show
Natural graphite exports from China decreased 30.7% year on year in February 2012 to 18,686 tonnes, according to data released by Chinese Customs.
However, the total export value reached $20m, a 71.6% increase on the same period last year. The figures from February 2012 represent the fifth consecutive month that export volumes have decreased, with the latest
exports now lower than any period in 2010 and 2011.
Japan is still the biggest importer of Chinese natural graphite, although its purchases fell 47.1% to 7,800 tonnes compared to February 2011. Total value, however, was up 13.7% y-o-y.
China’s imports of natural graphite were also lower year on year, dropping 48.5% to 4,974 tonnes. North Korea still ranks as the biggest graphite exporter to China.
For synthetic graphite, exports were steady in February – falling only 0.1% y-o-y to 24,383 tonnes with value rising slightly by 1%.
Imports of synthetic graphite, meanwhile, were up 10.1% to 2,856 tonnes – valued at $26m. Japan, the US and Germany are the main exporters of synthetic grades to China.
From Industrial Minerals