American Graphite Producers File Trade Case with U.S. Government Over Anticompetitive Graphite Prices on Chinese Exports
BRISBANE, Australia, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVONIX Limited (NASDAQ: NVX, ASX: NVX) (“NOVONIX” or the “Company”), a leading battery materials and technology company announced today the Company’s participation in the American Active Anode Material Producers’ (“AAAMP”) petition to the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) and the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) to investigate whether China is exporting natural and synthetic graphite used to make lithium-ion battery anode material at unfair prices to the United States.1
The filing asserts China is harming the nascent domestic graphite industry by exporting artificially cheap battery-grade graphite into the U.S., denying North American producers a fair opportunity to enter the market. Experts at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, the law firm handling the case, estimate dumping margins as high as 920%. If the investigation proves conclusive, Commerce will assess the use of additional tariffs equal to the extent of unfair pricing by the Chinese. China currently has over 95% market share for battery grade graphite.2
Dr. Chris Burns, CEO of NOVONIX, said, “This is an important issue to address on the path to strengthening the production of critical minerals here in the U.S. and bringing fair competition to the global marketplace. We hope filing this case will bring transparency to the graphite anode market and drive further government action to utilize policies and tariffs in a manner commensurate with China’s unfair trade practices.”
NOVONIX’s Riverside facility, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is poised to become the first large-scale production site dedicated to high-performance synthetic graphite for the battery sector in North America. It is slated to begin commercial production in 2025 with plans to grow output to 20,000 tonnes per annum to meet current customer commitments. Previously, the Company announced that the Department of Energy’s (“DOE”) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (“MESC”) awarded the Company a US$100 million grant3 and that it was selected for a US$103 million investment tax credit4 towards funding the Riverside facility. NOVONIX also recently announced receiving a conditional commitment from the DOE Loan Programs Office (“LPO”) for a direct loan of up to US$754.8 million to be applied towards partially financing a proposed new production facility also to be located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.5
This case was filed by the AAAMP which is comprised of four members of the North American Graphite Alliance (“NAGA”), including NOVONIX, alongside two additional graphite anode material producers in the United States. NAGA represents American and Canadian producers of battery-grade natural and synthetic graphite, both of which are used to create anode material for lithium-ion batteries. NAGA encourages the U.S. Federal government to craft and implement policies, programs, and funding opportunities that support growing the domestic graphite industry.
This announcement has been authorised for release by Admiral Robert J Natter, USN Ret., Chairman.
About NOVONIX
NOVONIX is a leading battery technology company revolutionizing the global lithium-ion battery industry with innovative, sustainable technologies, high-performance materials, and more efficient production methods. The Company manufactures industry-leading battery cell testing equipment, is growing its high-performance synthetic graphite material manufacturing operations, and has developed a patented all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis process. Through advanced R&D capabilities, proprietary technology, and strategic partnerships, NOVONIX has gained a prominent position in the electric vehicle and energy storage systems battery industry and is powering a cleaner energy future.
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For NOVONIX Limited
Scott Espenshade, (investors)
Stephanie Reid, (media)
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2 Benchmark Minerals Intelligence Anode Price Assessment September 2024
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