Natural graphite - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
A crystalline form of carbon used in batteries, refractories and industrial applications.The tables cover natural graphite mine production and reserves. Synthetic graphite is produced industrially from carbon feedstocks.
Natural graphite Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (metric tons)
Natural graphite Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 762,000 | 820,000 | 1,210,000 | 1,230,000 | 1,270,000 | 1,400,000 | 77.8% | +83.7% |
| #2 | Madagascar | 20,900 | 70,000 | 130,000 | 100,000 | 85,000 | 80,000 | 4.4% | +282.8% |
| #3 | Tanzania | 0 | 0 | 6,120 | 6,000 | 27,000 | 75,000 | 4.2% | - |
| #4 | Brazil | 63,600 | 82,000 | 72,000 | 73,000 | 58,000 | 65,000 | 3.6% | +2.2% |
| #5 | Mozambique | 28,000 | 72,000 | 166,000 | 96,000 | 39,000 | 60,000 | 3.3% | +114.3% |
| #6 | Russia | 25,000 | 15,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 1.4% | 0.0% |
| #7 | India | 6,000 | 7,000 | 11,000 | 11,500 | 17,600 | 17,000 | 0.9% | +183.3% |
| #8 | Canada | 8,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 3,500 | 11,700 | 8,000 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| #8 | North Korea | 8,100 | 8,100 | 8,100 | 8,100 | 8,100 | 8,000 | 0.4% | -1.2% |
| #10 | Norway | 12,000 | 6,290 | 10,380 | 7,200 | 5,340 | 6,600 | 0.4% | -45.0% |
| #11 | Sri Lanka | 4,000 | 3,000 | 2,600 | 2,200 | 3,000 | 3,200 | 0.2% | -20.0% |
| #12 | Türkiye | 2,500 | 2,700 | 2,800 | 2,000 | 2,600 | 2,200 | 0.1% | -12.0% |
| #13 | Ukraine | 16,000 | 10,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 900 | 800 | 0.0% | -95.0% |
| #14 | Mexico | 3,300 | 2,100 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 706 | 740 | 0.0% | -77.6% |
| #15 | South Korea | - | 10,500 | 23,800 | 27,000 | 1,000 | 500 | 0.0% | - |
| #15 | Vietnam | 5,000 | 5,000 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 0.0% | -90.0% |
| #17 | Austria | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 100 | 200 | 0.0% | -60.0% |
| #18 | Germany | 300 | 250 | 170 | 150 | 140 | 140 | 0.0% | -53.3% |
| - | World Total | 966,000 | 1,130,000 | 1,680,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,550,000 | 1,800,000 | 100.0% | +86.3% |
Natural graphite Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 172.2 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 100,000,000 | 32.3% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #2 | Brazil | 74,000,000 | 23.9% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #3 | Madagascar | 27,000,000 | 8.7% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #4 | Mozambique | 25,000,000 | 8.1% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | Tanzania | 18,000,000 | 5.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #6 | Russia | 14,000,000 | 4.5% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #7 | Vietnam | 9,700,000 | 3.1% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | India | 8,600,000 | 2.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | Türkiye | 6,900,000 | 2.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #10 | Canada | 5,900,000 | 1.9% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #11 | Mexico | 3,100,000 | 1.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #12 | North Korea | 2,000,000 | 0.6% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #13 | South Korea | 1,800,000 | 0.6% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #14 | Sri Lanka | 1,500,000 | 0.5% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #15 | Norway | 600,000 | 0.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 310,000,000 | 100.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphite (Natural): Production, mine | metric tons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Graphite (Natural): Imports for consumption | metric tons | 53,000 | 89,200 | 73,500 | 73,900 | 79,000 |
| Graphite (Natural): Exports | metric tons | 8,660 | 9,500 | 7,780 | 8,740 | 8,400 |
| Graphite (Natural): Consumption, apparent | metric tons | 44,300 | 79,700 | 65,700 | 65,200 | 71,000 |
| Graphite (Natural): U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Natural graphite
Which country leads graphite (natural) production (mine production)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 1,400,000 metric tons (estimated) (77.8% of the reported world total). World output was 1,800,000 metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported natural graphite reserves?
China ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 100,000,000 metric tons (Reserves) (32.3% of the reported world total) against a reported world total of 310,000,000 metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for natural graphite?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at 100% (Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (All) were China (46%), Canada (13%), Mozambique (13%).
How is natural graphite classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (2022 & 2025 lists). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Lithium-ion battery anodes, steelmaking refractories, crucibles, foundry facings, and industrial lubricants. Natural graphite is mined in flake, amorphous, and lump forms. Battery-anode supply chains rely on both spheroidized natural flake graphite and synthetic graphite produced from petroleum needle coke.