One is the period of price increase from 1998 to 2011. Taking large scale graphite as an example to illustrate the price changes of graphite. Before 2005, the Chinese market had sufficient supply of graphite, and the price of graphite was at a relatively low level, below $1000 per ton. In 2005, the discovery of graphene led to the vigorous development of emerging industries related to graphite, leading to an increase in demand for graphite and a rapid increase in graphite prices. In 2011, the price of graphite reached its peak, exceeding $2700 per ton.
The second is the period of price decline from 2011 to 2016. In 2011, graphite production capacity rapidly increased, and the global graphite market oversupplied. Graphite prices quickly fell and fell below $1000 per ton in 2016.
The third is the price fluctuation period from 2016 to present. Between 2016 and 2018, the demand for spherical graphite grew rapidly, and the price of graphite briefly rose to $1050 per ton. In 2019, global economic growth slowed down, resulting in overall overcapacity of graphite and a decrease in graphite prices. In 2020, the demand for electric vehicles and power batteries rapidly increased, and the demand for high-purity graphite raw materials increased significantly. The price of graphite also increased.