Natural Flake Graphite: How the Nov 9 MOFCOM Announcement Affects Supply and What Buyers Should Do Next

On November 9, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced it would temporarily suspend part of the export-control measures introduced in 2024, including the stricter end-user and end-use checks that had applied to certain graphite items exported to the United States. The suspension is effective immediately and will run through November 27, 2026. 

This does not abolish export controls altogether — rather, it temporarily eases the licensing barrier for specified items and shortens the administrative friction for legitimate civilian transactions that meet regulatory requirements. Companies exporting graphite-related products should therefore treat this as a window of opportunity to accelerate orders, prepare documentation, and secure supply. 

What this means specifically for natural flake graphite exporters and buyers

• Faster licensing prospects for qualified civilian uses. For natural flake graphite destined for civilian industrial applications (e.g., refractories, powder metallurgy, lubricants, foundry), MOFCOM’s temporary suspension generally

  
  

• improves the chance of timely license approval — provided the exporter submits complete, accurate end-use and end-user documentation. 

  
  

  
  

Artificial graphite and certain battery-grade materials remain sensitive. Note that rules covering synthetic/engineered graphite used for battery anodes and other battery materials may still be governed by separate controls introduced earlier in 2025 — those items require independent attention. 

• The suspension is time-limited. MOFCOM’s decision is temporary; businesses should not treat it as permanent deregulation. Plan orders and export filings now to take advantage of the window.

How Qingdao Xinghe Graphite can help — faster, compliant, ready

At Qingdao Xinghe Graphite Co., Ltd., we have already taken steps to support customers who want to move quickly and compliantly during this policy window:

1. Pre-prepared compliance packages — We maintain template final-user & final-use declarations, technical datasheets, and commercial contracts.

   Supplying complete paperwork with your RFQ or PO reduces back-and-forth with licensing authorities and shortens approval cycles.

   
   

2. Dedicated export compliance team — Our team coordinates with customs brokers and can assist with license submission, answer regulator queries, and track application status so you don’t waste valuable lead time.

   
   

3. Priority sample & pilot support — Customers who confirm intent early will receive priority for sample kits and trial shipments, enabling parallel product validation and licensing.

   
   

4. Stable inventory & logistics planning — We maintain buffer stocks of common PM and refractory grades and can plan consolidated shipments to optimize freight and customs processing.

   
   

While we cannot guarantee a specific license decision timeline (MOFCOM retains final authority), experience shows that complete and accurate documentation plus early engagement materially increases the likelihood of timely approval.

Recommended next steps for buyers (practical checklist)

To benefit from the current policy window, we recommend buyers take the following immediate actions:

1. Submit an intent/PO ASAP. Early purchase orders enable us to reserve inventory and begin preparing the compliance packet.

   
   

2. Provide final-user & final-use details. Full contact details, company registration, intended industrial application, and technical specs shorten licensing review.

   
   

3. Request a sample kit now. Run parallel technical trials while licensing proceeds.

   
   

4. Plan flexible shipment windows. We can coordinate air/sea options and consolidated documentation to match your procurement timelines.

   
   

5. Contact our export team for support. Email: John@xhgraphite.com.

   
   

This policy adjustment provides a meaningful, time-limited opportunity to ease transactional friction for civilian graphite uses. At the same time, the regulatory landscape remains dynamic: certain graphite subclasses (notably battery anode materials and specially designated synthetic grades) and any shipments with potential military end-use remain sensitive and require full compliance. Qingdao Xinghe Graphite will continue monitoring regulatory updates and will notify our customers if the situation changes.

For immediate assistance — product specs, sample requests, or support with export documentation — contact our team at visit www.graphitezone.com.