China adds antimony to global trade war

China is to start restricting exports of antimony, a key mineral used in batteries but also in making weapons, further stoking East-West tensions in global trade.
The controls, which will require exporters to seek a licence to export the mineral and its related compounds, will come into force on September 15. The commerce ministry said they were being brought in “to further protect China’s national security and interests and fulfil the nation’s international non-proliferation obligations”.
China is the source of about half the world’s antimony production, which is often a by-product of goldmining. The grey metal is in demand, reaching a record price of more than $22,000 a tonne this year.
Most antimony is used in flame retardants and a substantial proportion in solar panels, but its hardness means it is also used in missiles and ammunition. With about 20 per cent of the world’s market coming from Russia, China’s move further isolates the United States and its allies. America has no antimony production of its own.
China said the announcement had not been “targeted at any country”. However, the ministry said that Beijing was concerned not to export material that might be used to undermine its own security interests.
“The controls stem from security concerns, as some elements may be misused by certain countries or regions, threatening global stability,” Zhou Mi, a state think tank analyst, told Global Times, a Communist Party newspaper.
Fear of loss of access to antimony, with China and Russia dominating production, has led to a splurge of investment in the sector. Shares in Larvotto Resources, an Australian mining and resource exploration company, were among those to rise after the announcement, with its stock jumping by 44 per cent in Sydney. Larvotto is hoping to bring a new mine online at Hillgrove in northern New South Wales in 2026. It is believed to contain one of the ten largest reserves in the world.
Perpetua Resources, an American miner, is being backed by the Pentagon and the state import-export bank to produce antimony at a site in Idaho. The money was partially provided from funds set aside by Congress for defence projects in light of the war in Ukraine.
China’s restriction of antinomy comes after similar controls on exports of so-called rare earths, a set of 17 metallic elements, announced last year, which also set off a wave of research and development plans for alternative sources. Rare earths are critical components of batteries and other vital parts of new, green technology supply chains.
China’s policies are in part retaliation for the America’s increasing use of sanctions and restrictions to limit exports of high-end US technology, particularly specialist computer chips, that would enable Beijing to compete with Washington both commercially and militarily.