The mineral graphite is used in many industries such as aerospace, electronics, and automotive, and is mined in numerous countries around the world. According to updated data from 2023, the following are the top 10 producers of graphite worldwide.
In first place is the largest producer, China, with an estimated 4.5 million metric tons of graphite each year. An estimated 31.5% of global production is from this single country alone, with large concentration of deposits found mainly in the provinces of Shandong and Heilongjiang.
Second is India with an estimated 1.5 million metric tons produced annually. The main sources of Indian graphite are the states of Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Karnataka.
Brazil comes next with an estimated production of 1.15 million metric tons, with most of its output coming from the mineral-rich states of Bahia and Minas Gerais.
At fourth is Turkey, with an estimated production of 800 thousand metric tons a year. Most of the graphite mined in the country is from the western province of Bursa.
Fifth is North Korea, which produces an estimated 500 thousand metric tons of graphite annually. The country’s main graphite deposits are found in the provinces of Phyonggna and Yanggang.
At sixth is Madagascar with an estimated production of 400 thousand metric tons. The main sources of graphite in the country are the regions in the south and east.
Seventh is the United States, where an estimated 280 thousand metric tons of graphite is produced each year. Much of this material is imported from other countries for the purpose of refining and further processing.
Eighth place goes to Spain with an estimated output of 250 thousand metric tons of graphite annually. The country’s main deposits are found in the regions of Galicia and Castile-Leon.
Ninth is Mexico with an estimated production of 200 thousand metric tons each year. The mineral-rich state of Chiapas is the main source of Mexican graphite.
Finally, tenth is Canada with an estimated output of 175 thousand metric tons of graphite annually. This primarily comes from the province of Quebec, where the mineral is also processed for industrial use.
Overall, it is clear that China is the world’s largest producer of graphite, with India, Brazil, Turkey, North Korea, Madagascar, the United States, Spain, Mexico and Canada all making up a small percentage of the global production. With new extraction and mining technologies continuing to develop, the global graphite production is likely to rise in the near future.
