Demand for electric-vehicle battery anode materials outside China is rising, but supply remains concentrated among Chinese companies, the article said. Chinese firms with graphite processing capacity are competing on costs and yields for synthetic graphite and expanding volumes and customers beyond China. South Korean suppliers have not increased their share even in growing non-China markets. The article said cost and yield are likely to become key competitive benchmarks in Europe as EU rules develop, while recognition of Korea-made materials under FTA provisions remains uncertain.

U.S. all-solid-state battery company Factorial Energy is partnering with Japan’s Mitsui Mining & Smelting to broaden commercialisation of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries. The companies will combine Factorial’s Solstice platform with Mitsui’s sulfide solid electrolyte technology and push mass production. Factorial said it aims to strengthen materials supply for Solstice and lay the groundwork for global scale-up. It has also expanded orders and partnerships with automakers and other industries.