Supply Situation Report: Graphite demand soars above pre-crisis levels.

The article forecasts an increase in global demand for graphite as of April 2011 with levels reportedly surpassing those before the recession in 2008. The largest producer of graphite is China, with an estimated output of 1 to 1.2 million tonnes per annum (tpa) in 2009. Refractories are considered the largest end use for the graphite market, where flake and amorphous grades are used in several applications.