China continues to dominate the graphite market, but according to Amy Bennett, principal consultant at Fastmarkets, the real vulnerability for western supply chains isn't access to raw materials — it's the lack of processing capacity.

Speaking with the Investing News Network at the Fastmarkets Global Lithium, Battery & Critical Materials conference in Las Vegas, Bennett examines why graphite prices remain weak despite growing battery demand, how energy storage systems are reshaping long-term demand forecasts and why governments may need to play a larger role in building secure critical minerals supply chains.

She also discusses US policy, China's market influence, vanadium's changing role in energy storage and the investment challenges facing battery materials developers.

This interview was recorded on June 23, 2026.

0:00 - Intro

1:28 - Developing ex-China graphite supply

7:35 - Midstream growth takes time

11:14 - Graphite demand has staying power

16:10 - ESS demand an important end-use segment

17:57 - Investing in graphite supply

20:06 - Outro

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