China's graphite curbs send South Korea searching for alternatives

Stricter controls by Beijing spark familiar lament of Seoul's vulnerability

20231023 China Qingdao Container Port

Cranes serve a container ship on a dockyard in Qingdao in east China's Shandong province on Oct. 13. © AP

STEVEN BOROWIEC, Nikkei staff writer

SEOUL -- South Korea is working to secure alternative supplies of graphite after China announced tightened export controls, as Seoul struggles to minimize the impact it faces from the trade war between Beijing and Washington.

The South Korean industry ministry said on Monday that it will take steps to prevent shortages of graphite, which is used in production of EV batteries, an important growth sector for the country. Ministry officials held a meeting the same day with industry heavyweights including the country's three largest battery makers -- LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On -- as well as trade associations and POSCO Future M, a producer of industrial materials.

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