China to Restrict Antimony Exports from September, Impacting Global Supply Chains

Beijing announced on Thursday, August 15, that it will impose restrictions on antimony exports starting September 15. As the world's largest producer of this critical metal, China’s move is expected to have wide-ranging impacts on industries that rely on antimony, including flame retardant manufacturing, ammunition production, and the photovoltaics sector. The price of antimony had already been climbing in recent months due to rising demand.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed that the restrictions will apply to various antimony-related raw materials, including ore and high-purity metal forms, as well as technologies for processing the metal. This decision is expected to further tighten global supply chains, potentially driving prices even higher.

Antimony is essential to many industrial processes due to its flame retardant properties and its role in specialized sectors like renewable energy and defense.