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Antimony prices prepare for brand-new records on China export curbs

China's decision to limit exports of antimony from Sept. 15 is likely to drive rates of the metal used in ammunition and batteries to brand-new records, as purchasers look for more material to stockpile, experts and traders said on Thursday.

Costs of the small metal << ANT-LON >, likewise utilized in fire-retardants, photovoltaic solar cells and military devices, are currently trading at all-time highs above $22,000 a. metric load, having roughly doubled considering that the start of the year. due to a worldwide deficit of the metal.

Given we are still at record costs, it's likely that. rates will go even greater with this statement, stated Chetan. Soni at consultancy CRU, including that costs could reach $30,000. as purchasers would be looking to protect material for future. production or stockpiling.

China is the world's largest antimony producer, accounting. for 48% of global materials at 83,000 heaps last year, according. to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

It will impose export limits on antimony and associated. elements in the name of nationwide security, China's commerce. ministry stated, its most current transfer to restrict shipments of important. minerals where it is the dominant supplier.

This might widen the deficit in the antimony market, which. consultancy Project Blue approximated at 10,000 lots in May.

China has actually currently been minimizing metal exports as. they are consuming all of it domestically, said Jack Bedder,. co-founder of Task Blue.

European refineries of antimony trioxide have actually increased. supply from Tajikistan, Vietnam and Myanmar to diversify from. the Chinese feed, while India increased antimony ingot materials. to the United States, he stated.

Another upswing in antimony prices will reinforce the. western world's reliance on China for critical minerals, which. likewise consist of uncommon earths, gallium and germanium, exports of. which are likewise limited because last year.

In those cases, exports rapidly flatlined after export. licence requirements were presented, before increasing once again, a. trend which could be seen with antimony exporters now needing to. obtain a licence, CRU's Soni said.

Other major manufacturers of antimony consist of Myanmar, which. represented 4,600 lots last year, Turkey for 6,000 tons and. Tajikstan for 21,000 lots, according to USGS.

The prospects of a little but antimony-rich nation,. Tajikistan, look good now, stated Alexey Kabanov, CEO at. Swiss-based trading company Voyager Group.

The tight market conditions are partly due to the fact that of. disturbances in supply from Russia due to sanctions enforced after. Moscow attacked Ukraine in February 2022 and Russia's lower. domestic production. Russia produced 4,300 heaps in 2023, information. from USGS revealed.

There is no pipeline of supply to switch on, said. Christopher Ecclestone, a principal and mining strategist at. Hallgarten & & Company in London, adding that rates could quickly. climb above $30,000 this year.

(source: Reuters)