Vietnam holds 9.7 million tons of graphite, ranking 7th globally

Vietnam holds an estimated 9.7 million tons of natural graphite, ranking it seventh globally in total reserves. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this amount accounts for approximately 3.1% of the world's total natural graphite reserves, which are estimated at 310 million tons.

Most of these reserves are located in the Northwest and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam. The graphite is a critical material for the production of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy storage systems due to its high melting point, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity.

Despite the significant volume, a technical bottleneck remains. Current processing in Vietnam primarily uses rudimentary mechanical methods that increase purity from 10-12% to roughly 80-90%. This level of purity is currently insufficient for the high-tech industries that require higher-grade materials.