Chinese flake graphite consolidation could alter global supply structure

China has revealed plans to consolidate operations in the world’s most prolific flake graphite-producing region – the Heilongjiang province, where most of the world’s battery raw material comes from – that could significantly alter the global supply structure of the industry, UK-based analyst Industrial Minerals Data (IM Data) manager Simon Moores said on Thursday. China had officially announced plans to crack down on polluting flake graphite operations and start consolidation of the mines within the next 18 months.