Graphite, although one of Brazil’s lesser-known important minerals, is an essential element in the manufacture of electric cars and electronic devices. It is found in the anode of batteries, where lithium atoms lose electrons and move towards the cathode, generating energy for the vehicle.
Brazil has the second largest reserve of the product, although it is responsible for only 4% of the world’s production. China is the main producer, as well as the country with the largest refining capacity.
This report is part of the “Identifying Critical Minerals” series covering eight metals that are critical to making products related to the energy transition: rare earths, nickel, lithium, niobium, cobalt, copper, manganese, and graphite.
See below for more details about the mineral.
How does it appear on Earth?
- Graphite can be divided into natural and synthetic
- Naturally, it is composed of carbon atoms and is found in metamorphic rocks
- Synthetic is made from coke
Main uses
Usage path
Countries that produce the most
Where are the reserves in Brazil?
Countries that polish the most
More than 90% of graphite refining takes place in China, with the remainder divided mainly by other Asian countries, as well as Europe. Data taken from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
- China Minmetals (China)
- China Carbon Graphite Group (China)
- Syrah Resources Limited (Australia)
- SGL Carbon (Germany)
The largest companies in Brazil
The largest natural graphite company in Brazil is Nacional de Grafite, founded in 1939 and with some operations in Minas Gerais. The company annually produces about 70,000 tons of graphite with different properties, including a line for batteries for portable electronic devices. After that, only small mining companies extract the mineral in the country.
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