South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy convened a joint public-private meeting on Oct. 23 to address China’s graphite export controls. This move could impact the country’s battery industry. The assembly included officials from various government departments and representatives from major domestic battery companies. In 2022, South Korea’s graphite imports amounted to a significant portion, with a dominant share sourced from China.

In response, the ministry is launching a “Graphite Supply Task Force” in collaboration with agencies like the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to ensure a consistent supply. They are also focusing on establishing communication channels with the Chinese government to prevent potential import interruptions. Discussions also highlighted plans to accelerate the production of domestic synthetic graphite and diversify graphite sourcing from countries like Tanzania and Mozambique. The industry called for continuous dialogue with China and emphasized the importance of national backing for a stable graphite supply chain.