Andy Home of Reuters reports that the reliance of the United States on China for antimony—a critical component in various industrial applications—highlights a significant vulnerability in American supply chains. Antimony is a key material used in flame retardants, lead-acid batteries, alloys, and armor-piercing bullets, making it essential for both defense and commercial sectors. The price of antimony has doubled since the start of the year as big producers such as Vietnam, Tajikistan, and Myanmar have been rerouting shipments from the Red Sea to avoid Houthi attacks. Russia’s supply has been crippled by falling output and Western sanctions, creating a perfect storm for the antimony market. Now, China, which accounted for 63% of U.S. imports and 80% of the world’s output, is announcing export restrictions. Home writes:
China’s announcement of antimony export restrictions has added fuel to a red-hot market and opens another potential flash-point with the West for control of critical minerals.
Antimony is a little-known metal with multiple applications. Its largest end-use is as a flame retardant, but it is also found in solar panels and lead-acid batteries.
The U.S. Department of the Interior has designated it a critical mineral because it is also essential for armour-piercing ammunition, infrared sensors and precision optics.
The Department of Defense was holding stocks of just over 90 metric tons (198,763 pounds) at the end of September 2022, according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service. […]
World Mine Production and Reserves: Reserves for Australia, China, and Turkey were revised based on Government reports.
Source: USGS
Last year Beijing flexed its metallic muscles with similar restrictions on exports of gallium, germanium and graphite in a tit-for-tat response to U.S. controls on exports of advanced semiconductor chips to China. […]
HOT MARKET
Antimony prices have nearly doubled since the start of the year to a record $22,750 per ton, basis metal delivered to Northwest Europe.
That’s in part because of shrinking exports from major producers. China’s exports are in medium-term decline due to higher demand from its solar energy sector, while Russian supply has been crimped by falling output and Western sanctions. […]
The U.S. REEShore Act already prohibits the use of Chinese tungsten in military equipment starting from 2026, which makes the metal an obvious choice for a retaliatory gesture.
However, China is not short of options when it comes to leveraging its dominance in critical metals production.
It is the largest source of supply for 26 of the 50 minerals currently classified as critical by the USGS, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank.
