Imery's very recent purchase of Nippon Power Graphite in Japan that produces NATURAL graphite anodes is a huge plus for any battery grade natural graphite producers.
Hitachi announcements of a 4 fold increase in Anode production a few months back is another big hint.
Substitution of synthetic spherical graphite to natural graphite even without the very strong growth predictions opens up even bigger markets for natural spherical graphite.
2016 Benchmark minerals stats put 65% natural spherical graphite and 30% synthetic spherical graphite for battery use I believe. Thus the natural market could grow potentially 30% with companies and producers swapping to natural.
With more pressure coming from big vehicle tax changes in the UK this April, Electric Vehicle take up for an example will impact this battery supply chain. Multiply this across the globe including energy storage and the chances of a price squeeze become very strong indeed in the near future.
Lithum and cobalt are flying and IMO the 'right stuff' natural graphite stocks are due another run. Very difficult market to work out graphite but companies like Benchmark Minerals are doing a great job to show investors and markets current and potential changes.
Drilling results and scoping study details shortly.
GLTAH.
CM
TON Price at posting:
6.5¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
