Interesting their choice of processed "s" graphite - certainly...

Interesting their choice of processed "s" graphite - certainly appears a shot at EU to over France ban on Chinese EV's and German inquiry and looking to do similar. Given a slow down to ROW EV production could ensue a slow down in RE required for PrNd magnets - which impacts China considerably as well as their graphode anode producers suppliers to ROW and many joint Chinese partnered multi billion dollar investments in US and EU already established or being established. Anyway wait and see in coming months just how much they actually ban. Perhaps their plan is to sell the complete battery at higher value to ROW - than the anodes or other spherical etc graphite products the ROW requires - Beijing always stated they were intent on producing and exporting higher value products - they have encountered issues of protectionism and rightly so of US and EU auto manufacturers - massive import industries of significance and pride - Beijing also passed legislation around 2 years to permit the ban of critical minerals exports - they term it now like the US - as a matter of security - previously with Japan ban of REO's they used environmental and found that was a big mistake as WTO watchdog went against China in their fair trade ruling.

Anyway why graphite? could have been RE's! - far more critical to defense AND EV's - WIND - everything renewables - robotics - they could have - may still slow down the ROW renewables massive investments and military (depending stockpiles) for quiet some time. Perhaps this graphite thing just a shot over the bow - clearly Lynas is increasing production exponentially post Malaysia upgrades and US operational 2026 - as I say just a shot over the bow re graphite - if they really wanted an impact it would be RE ban whilst it would have maximum impact. Others are years away from any production - refining of any quantities.

Interestingly the Myanmar RE non supply is not impacting the RE prices as previous - possibly demand is down a little but is it really (whom can one believe of any Beijing statistics) - with all the increased EVs globally etc - global defense must be chewing through the kilo's etc. Anyway perhaps Beijing had a plan for extra concentrate production capacity in the event Myanmar supply restrictions occur again - what does it matter anyway when a phone call from Beijing cuts prices regardless of how much that costs China's central gov - so long as they keep losses to a minimum - to give their EV and WIND companies the advantage for exports - as Germany is now investigating - the losses gov incur are mitigated by improved industry revenue - employment etc - but to critically keep the RE prices low to make life tough for the likes of Lynas and any other potentials - this has been happening for well over a decade - Lynas endured such many times in the past - and of course some favorable times before Beijing seized control of RE industry and consolidated it - pretty much 90% of production I believe in state ownership now.

Sorry for the ramble - to much time.