Great Lakes Graphite Inc. on Jan. 24 said it received an order for 20 tons of synthetic graphite from a Middle East-based customer.

A series of qualification tests will be performed on the material to confirm suitability for use in the steel industry, which represents a new and growing market opportunity for the company.

"A positive outcome from these tests will qualify our material for a customer who currently consumes between three to four thousand tons of graphite per year," Mike Coscia, senior vice president of sales, said in a statement.

CEO Paul Gorman added that, while the company's sales and marketing efforts have been focused on North America, it is receiving more inquiries and sample requests from prospective customers around the globe.