China to Impose Export Restrictions on Antimony, Escalating Critical Mineral Controls

China has announced new export restrictions on antimony and related elements, citing national security concerns in its latest move to tighten control over critical minerals where it holds a dominant global position. The restrictions, set to take effect from September 15, will apply to six types of antimony-related products, including antimony ore, metals, and oxide. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that the curbs are aimed at safeguarding national security and fulfilling international obligations, such as non-proliferation agreements.

Antimony, a strategic metal essential in military applications like ammunition, infrared missiles, nuclear weapons, and night vision technology, as well as in batteries and photovoltaic systems, saw China account for 48% of the global mined output in 2022. The export restrictions will also ban the export of gold-antimony smelting and separation technology without government permission.

The announcement has triggered concerns globally, especially in the United States and Europe, where reliance on Chinese supplies for critical materials is already under scrutiny. Christopher Ecclestone, a mining strategist at Hallgarten & Company in London, emphasized that the military importance of antimony makes it a valuable resource for national defense, suggesting that the curbs could significantly impact Western military supply chains.

The U.S. and other countries are scrambling to reduce their dependence on China for essential minerals, implementing policies and support measures to bolster their domestic critical minerals sectors. Companies like Perpetua Resources, which is developing a U.S. antimony and gold project with Pentagon support, are now exploring ways to accelerate production in response to China’s tightening controls.

China’s latest restrictions are part of a broader trend of export curbs on key materials, following similar measures on rare earth magnets, graphite products, gallium, and germanium—critical components in the semiconductor industry. The announcement has already led to a surge in antimony prices, driven by increased demand and shrinking supply, particularly from the photovoltaic sector where the metal is used to enhance solar cell performance.

Chinese antimony producers, including Hunan Gold and Tibet Huayu Mining, have seen their share prices soar by up to 93% in 2024, reflecting the market’s reaction to the tightening supply. As global demand for antimony intensifies, the latest move by Beijing is likely to further strain international supply chains and push prices even higher.