Sluggish demand for graphite flake fines in China’s battery anode and refractories sectors has led to ongoing output cuts among flake miners and processors, tightening the supply of large flake graphite. Only a few miners continue normal production due to low prices for flake fines, which account for approximately 85% of China’s total crystalline graphite output. Fastmarkets reported that the price for graphite flake 94% C, -100 mesh was unchanged at $450-470 per tonne as of October 31, down 17% from earlier this year. Weak demand has also affected the market for spherical graphite, with prices remaining stable at $1,700-2,000 per tonne. The upcoming winter shutdowns in northern China are expected to exacerbate supply tightness, with some large graphite flake specifications already out of stock.