Chinese Exports of Battery Material Graphite Plunge on Controls

China’s exports of natural graphite, a material used in electric vehicle batteries, plummeted in December after Beijing imposed controlsat the start of the month, tightening its grip on the supply of minerals vital to advanced manufacturing.

Overseas sales plunged 91% month-on-month to 3,973 tons, according to Chinese customs data, after a rush to buy ahead of the deadline saw them surge to more than 45,000 tons in November. Exports had averaged about 17,000 tons a month in the year through October.

The export restrictions are generally viewed as Beijing’s response to trade barriers raised on Chinese products by Western ...