July 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department said on

Thursday it will impose preliminary anti-dumping duties of 93.5%

on anode-grade graphite imported from China after concluding

that the materials, which are a key component for electric

vehicle batteries, are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair

market value.

A Commerce Department fact sheet seen by Reuters shows a

single anti-dumping margin and cash deposit rate of 93.5% for

all Chinese producers.

The order affects imports valued at $347.1 million in 2023,

Commerce said. The duties apply to anode-grade graphite material

with a graphite minimum purity content of 90% carbon by weight,

and can be synthetic graphite, natural graphite or a blend of

the two.

A separate but parallel anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese

anode grade graphite materials by the Commerce Department on May

20 resulted in a preliminary countervailing duty of 6.55% for

most producers but 712.03% for Huzhou Kaijin New Energy

Technology Corp and 721.03% for Shanghai Shaosheng Knitted Sweat

(sic).

Final anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties for the material

are due by December 5, 2025.

The petitioner in both the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy

cases is the American Active Anode Material Producers, an ad hoc

coalition of U.S. producers. It includes Anovion Technologies of

Sanborn, New York, Syrah Technologies LLC of Vidalia, Louisiana,

Novonix Anode Materials of Chattanooga, Tennessee,

Epsilon Advanced Materials of Leland, North Carolina, and SKI US

Inc of Marietta, Georgia.