• Syrah restarts Balama graphite mine in Mozambique.

• Gradual output; exports may resume in Q3 2025.

• Force majeure continues amid low global prices.

 Australian mining firm Syrah Resources has resumed production at its Balama graphite mine in Mozambique, Africa's largest graphite operation. The company announced the restart on Thursday, June 19, following several weeks of personnel mobilization and refurbishment of the processing plant.

Operations at Balama had been suspended since July 2024 due to low graphite prices and site access blockades by local communities. With those issues now resolved, Syrah plans to gradually increase plant usage and production volumes under a "campaign mode" framework.

At this moderate pace, the company aims to rebuild inventory and resume exports to markets outside China by the third quarter of 2025. While Balama has a nameplate capacity of 350,000 tons of graphite annually, no specific production targets have been provided for the remainder of the year.

Syrah has maintained the force majeure declaration issued in 2024, which will remain in effect until exports resume and a full review of operational conditions is completed. This restart occurs while the global graphite market continues to face pressure from oversupply, particularly from China.

This excess supply has led to a sustained decline in prices. According to ChemAnalyst, flake graphite prices in the U.S. fell 5.5% to $912 per ton during the first quarter of 2025. Syrah’s decision to operate Balama at a reduced pace reflects this market reality, with output closely tied to demand.