News Industry

Africa’s Graphite Output Falls 30% in 2024 Due to Mine Disruptions (IEA)

Africa’s Graphite Output Falls 30% in 2024 Due to Mine Disruptions (IEA)
Friday, 23 May 2025 12:48
  • Africa’s graphite production dropped to 120,000 tons in 2024, says IEA
  • Civil unrest at Balama and issues at Lindi mine triggered the decline
  • New projects in Malawi, Tanzania, and Madagascar may reverse the trend

Africa accounts for 10% of global natural graphite supply. Despite China dominating nearly 80% of the graphite market, Africa could potentially expand its market share in the years to come, bolstered by projects in progress.

The IEA, in its report Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025, attributed the performance downturn primarily to operational issues at Balama, the continent's largest graphite mine.

“Mozambique’s Balama mine declared force majeure due to civil unrest, and Tanzania’s Lindi mine faced issues after its owner went into administration, compounded by logistical problems at the Dar es Salaam port,” the report elaborated.

Australian company Syrah Resources, which operates the Balama mine, produced no graphite from the site since July 2024. This production halt was a key factor in the drop to 120,000 tons reported by the IEA, a 30% decline from the previous year. Syrah plans to restart production by the end of June 2025 but has not issued any updated forecasts.

Meanwhile, Tirupati is optimizing its Madagascar operations, aiming to raise annual production capacity from 20,000 tons to 54,000 tons by December 2025.

Several graphite projects are underway across the continent, suggesting that Africa could still play a larger role in the global market. Sovereign Metals is developing the Kasiya project in Malawi, which could yield 233,000 tons of graphite over a 25-year mine life. In Tanzania, Black Rock Mining is advancing the Mahenge project, targeting 340,000 tons of annual graphite concentrate by 2026.

These developments could reverse the production slump and accelerate Africa’s market share expansion. The IEA’s earlier World Energy Outlook 2024 projected Africa’s graphite output share could double to 20% by 2030.

However, that outlook is complicated by current market headwinds. With oversupply and declining demand, particularly in the electric vehicle sector, graphite prices have been under pressure since 2023. This has dampened investor momentum in the short term.

In Madagascar, NextSource has struggled to bring its Molo mine to commercial production, citing difficult market conditions. Likewise, Syrah Resources cited the weak market as a factor in its 2024 decision to suspend operations at Balama.

On the same topic
• Loulo-Gounkoto mine remains shut as Mali’s administrator seeks to restart it by selling stored gold• Barrick halted operations in January over export...
Hive Coega has officially entered its construction phase, with tenders now out for its core infrastructure. This milestone comes four years after the...
Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s leading cocoa producer, has set an ambitious target: to process 100% of its cocoa crop at the first stage by 2030. While the...
 • Kamoa-Kakula, DRC's largest copper mine, boosts production by 31% to 245,127 tonnes in H1 2025, despite a temporary halt in operations in...
Most Read
01

• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...

Coffee: Global Consumption Expected to Reach Record Level in 2025/2026
02

• Investors seem to keep focusing on yields, which are high for the moment• New Leadership might see...

Afreximbank Bonds Retain Market Confidence Despite Moody’s Downgrade
03

• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo...

Algeria Awards Commercial 5G Licenses
04

• ECOWAS Bank funds 47.7-km stretch of strategic 700-km road project• Lagos-Calabar highway seen boo...

Nigeria Secures $100 mln ECOWAS Bank Loan for Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
05

• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector cou...

IFC Plans Investment Fund to Help Grow African Film Industry
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.