China to curb exports of key EV battery material from Dec. 1

Western electric vehicle makers rush to secure graphite supplies

20231020 car factory

Electric vehicles are assembled on the production line at Leapmotor's factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, on April 26. (China Daily via Reuters)

IORI KAWATE and SHUNSUKE TABETA, Nikkei staff writers

BEIJING -- China announced on Friday that it will require export permits for graphite, a key material for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, starting Dec. 1. The country is the world's top graphite producer, and the move could spur procurement difficulties for global EV makers.

Regulations will be introduced based on the Export Control Law and others that tighten export controls on strategic goods, preventing Chinese companies from exporting unless they go through the authority's examination process and obtain permission.

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