Tesla drops threat to scrap graphite supply deal with Syrah

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
Tesla drops threat to scrap graphite supply deal with Syrah teaser image

Australia’s Syrah Resources said on Monday Tesla has ‌withdrawn a notice of intent to end their graphite supply deal over an alleged quality default, accepting the miner is now producing conforming samples.

Under its 2021 contract with Elon Musk-led Tesla, ​Syrah aimed to supply 8,000 metric tons of graphite anode materials ​over a four-year period from its Vidalia plant in Louisiana.

Shares of ⁠Syrah rose as much as 41.4% to A$0.140, hitting their highest since March ​24 and on track for their best session since October 23, 2023. The ​broader ASX200 benchmark stock index was down 0.4% in early trading.

Risks remain, especially if Syrah fails to achieve the final qualification, said Craig Sidney, a senior investment adviser at Shaw ​and Partners.

“Today’s move is positive off a very low base and volumes are ​very high as expected,” said Sidney, while referring to Syrah shares.

Volatility is expected to continue ‌in ⁠the short term as some traders exit the stock and there may be some tax loss selling into the end of the financial year, he said.

Electric vehicle maker Tesla issued a default notice in July 2025, citing conformity issues with ​the active anode ​material (AAM) samples delivered ⁠from the Vidalia facility, the only vertically integrated, large-scale producer of anode materials outside China.

In a statement to the ASX ​on Monday, Syrah said Tesla now accepts that the ​miner has ⁠demonstrated it is producing conforming AAM samples and has made sufficient progress.

Syrah said Tesla has reserved its existing right to terminate the supply agreement if Vidalia AAM does ⁠not ​meet final qualification.

In March, Tesla and Syrah agreed ​to extend for the fourth time the deadline to resolve the alleged default under their graphite supply ​agreement to June 1.

(By Rajasik Mukherjee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Subhranshu Sahu)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.