Recently, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, and others jointly issued a notice on optimizing and adjusting temporary export control measures for graphite items. The notice pointed out that three types of highly sensitive graphite items, such as spheroidized graphite, have been included in the dual-use item export control list, and temporary controls on five types of low sensitive graphite items mainly used in basic industries of the national economy such as steel, metallurgy, and chemical industry, such as furnace carbon electrodes, have been lifted.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated that this adjustment is a specific measure taken by the Ministry of Commerce to continue optimizing export management and supporting the development of foreign trade for enterprises. It is also an important measure to strengthen export controls on graphite products. Industry insiders interpret and analyze that this adjustment will be conducive to promoting the export of high-quality graphite products, while also benefiting the export of basic industrial products such as graphite electrodes, promoting the sustainable development of China’s graphite industry, and benefiting carbon product manufacturing enterprises.
Adjustment of graphite product export policy, affecting industry geometry
It is understood that graphite is a material with a special structure, which has various characteristics, including high temperature resistance, thermal shock resistance, conductivity, lubrication, chemical stability, and plasticity. Due to these characteristics, graphite plays an indispensable role in modern industry and is widely used in traditional industries such as refractory materials, electrode brushes, pencils, casting, sealing, and lubrication.
China is the world’s largest producer and exporter of graphite. In 2006, when the Ministry of Commerce and other national ministries issued temporary export control measures, graphite products were included, including graphite electrodes used in the steel industry and carbon electrodes for industrial silicon. According to relevant regulations, domestic enterprises must obtain approval from the competent authorities before exporting. The application for an export license means a certain time limit, which reduces the efficiency of enterprises in expanding overseas markets and objectively affects the development of the industry.
Sun Qing, Honorary President of the China Carbon Industry Association, stated in an interview with Global Times that graphite products are widely used and must be regulated for national security and interests, as well as fulfilling international obligations on non-proliferation. In addition, it should be considered to be lifted. Since 2006, China has implemented temporary controls on graphite related items, which have continued until now. Domestic graphite electrode manufacturers have repeatedly called on the Ministry of Commerce to lift export controls, and the China Carbon Industry Association has communicated with the Ministry of Commerce on this issue multiple times, expressing the demands and intentions of the manufacturers.
Sun Qing stated that the Ministry of Commerce has adjusted its previous graphite product export control measures, including aviation, military and other graphite products under formal control, while those used for national economic purposes, such as graphite electrodes, have been removed from the control list. This adjustment is beneficial to the development of the industry and the national economy.
Beneficial for the domestic carbon manufacturing industry, making the export of graphite electrodes more convenient
What will be the impact of the graphite electrode industry after the implementation of the announcement? The reporter also interviewed management personnel of enterprises related to the carbon industry.
According to industry insiders, the terms of the announcement reflect a “release” and “receipt”, which are closely related to the products and development of carbon manufacturing enterprises. This time, the country has optimized and adjusted the export control measures for graphite products, and cancelled the temporary control on five types of graphite products mainly used in basic industries of the national economy, such as steel, metallurgy, and chemical industry, which is beneficial for the graphite electrode industry
Post time: 3月-20-2024
