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Abstract

Supply: up and down they go Securing sufficient supplies of graphite had not been problematic for consumers over the past few years. [...]months ago, most perceived the global graphite market to be lingering in a situation of oversupply and sluggish demand.Sales to the battery sector were increasing while those to refractories were weak but, overall, buyers knew they could place an order on almost any day and be certain of finding the material and at a good price. According to the World Steel Association, global steel production increased by 5.6% in the nine months to September 2017 to 1.267 billion tonnes, with notable expansions across all regions.Leading the way was Latin America, where output rose 8% on year-ago levels. [...]in their latest updates to investors, leading refractories suppliers such as RHI Magnesita and Vesuvius all highlighted improving steel markets as a leading factor in growth in total business in 2017 to date. First production at the Balama project was achieved in the second half of October, with initial bagged volumes shipped to customers in November.Primary end-markets in the first year of production will be refractories and metallurgy (carbon-raising applications), Syrah told Industrial Minerals at the UniteCR refractories conference in Santiago, Chile, in September, But the company is also keen to establish a presence in the fast-growing battery market, it added.