Great points! Exchange rate is a huge incentive for global corporations that deal with US$...even the Euro.

Have a look at two of the more prominent graphite suppliers for li-ion batteries...SGL Carbon(EU) and Graftech (USD). Both are restructuring, cutting costs because of the smaller margins on graphite electrodes (steel industry). I'm sure other issues too, but these are a significant driver. SGL (and i believe Graftech) is trying to restructure and focus on core business and higher profit margin business (i.e. li-ion).

If ZEN deposit offers huge profit margins compared to needle coke and flake graphite (see page 16 of their Sept presentation...takes 6 months to produce high-purity graphite from needle coke); the middle men that produce the copper foil (or is it called graphite foil for Li-ion batteries?) for li-ion batteries should be jumping all over this. Cut purfication time down to a few weeks or less, as well as costs...recipe for success!

http://www.sglgroup.com/cms/international/investor-relations/index.html?__locale=en