China's Dec graphite exports slump after new export rules
Repeats Jan 20 story with no changes in content
BEIJING, Jan 20 (Reuters) -China's exports of graphite plunged last month, customs data showed on Saturday, after Beijing changed the rules on exporting the key material for electric-vehicle batteries on national security grounds.
The Dec. 1 regulation requires export permits on some forms of natural and synthetic graphite.
The new controls sparked worries over global supply as China is the world's biggest producer and exporter of graphite, shipping mainly to Japan, South Korea, the United States and India.
Exports of natural flake graphite dropped 79.7% from a year earlier to 1,428 metric tons in December, versus 23,503 tons in November.
Exports of spherical graphite last month fell 84.4% on-year to 949 tons, versus 12,187 tons in November.
Exports of all forms of synthetic graphite slid 14.6% in December from a year earlier to 39,763 tons, versus 55,108 tons in November.
The month-on-month drop was exacerbated as exporters had rushed to ship cargoes in November ahead of the new controls.
China's commerce ministry spokesperson told a regular briefing on Thursday it had received many applications for export permits and granted approval to relevant companies.
Reporting by Siyi Liu, Amy Lv and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Tom Hogue and William Mallard
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