Isostatic graphite market represented by TOYO TANSO as the world's largest manufacturer

In 2011, the global isostatic graphite market was no more than 1,500 tons. It is estimated that the market will pick up the supply-demand balance in 2012.

In this round of expansion of isostatic graphite capacity, China has become a popular investment destination as well as the most important consumer within the isostatic graphite market.

As a kind of core and essential raw material with high tech content, isostatic graphite is widely used in industries like PV, electrical discharge machining, optical fibre manufacturing and new-type nuclear power.

After 2006, the boom of PV industry across the world broke the supply-demand balance of the isostatic graphite market, accelerating the strain of market supply.

As a global leader in manufacturing industry and the largest PV products producer, China has long been the huge demander for isostatic graphite. With China's skyrocketing development of PV industry in recent years, the demand for isostatic graphite is increasing year by year.

In 2011, China's demand for isostatic graphite hit 18,000 tons, while the output was no more than 9,500 tons, with the supply gap reaching 8,500 tons.

Key players currently dominating the isostatic graphite market include TOYO TANSO, Mersen, SGL, Tokai Carbon, and GrafTech.

TOYO TANSO boasts the world's largest isostatic graphite manufacturer, with the capacity in 2011 hitting 11,000 tons. Its products cover major downstream sectors. Currently, the company's 4,000-ton isostatic graphite production line is under construction. After it being put into production, the isostatic graphite capacity of the company is expected to total 15,000 tons.

SGL is a transnational carbon product company, with isostatic graphite production bases located in Yangquan of Shanxi Province and Bonn in Germany. In July 2010, the company announced to invest EUR75 million to increase the isostatic graphite capacity from 5,000 t/a to 15,000 t/a. And the project is currently under construction.

For more information on isostatic graphite market, see the latest research: Global Isostatic Graphite Market

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