The Chinese regime has implemented new export restrictions on antimony, a vital metal for batteries and nuclear weapons. This move further strengthens China’s control over the supply chains of strategic minerals, in which it already dominates global production.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce on August 15, antimony and its chemical compounds will be subject to export controls starting September 15. Traders who wish to export the mineral in various forms will now need to obtain a license from the ministry and provide detailed information about their overseas buyers and export plans.
In a separate statement, a ministry spokesman stated that these restrictions are intended to “safeguard national security” and fulfill international obligations related to “non-proliferation.”
The latest measures also target technology, equipment used for smelting and separating materials, as well as other products associated with what the ministry refers to as super-hard materials.
China is currently the dominant global producer of antimony. Although its share of global production has decreased in recent years, it still accounted for almost half of the world’s production in 2023 according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Antimony is considered a critical mineral for economic and national security by the US Department of Interior. However, there is currently no domestic mining of this mineral in the United States, making China its primary source of imports.
A study published by the US International Trade Commission in 2021 found that antimony is most commonly used in fireproofing uniforms and lead-acid storage batteries within the United States. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in producing various military equipment including nuclear weapons and infrared sensors.
Due to limited supply and increasing demand, antimony prices have soared nearly doubling since early this year reaching over $22,000 per metric ton. The new export restrictions announced by Beijing are expected to further drive up prices.
Amid tensions with Western countries, China has already tightened controls over critical minerals’ supply chains. In July 2023, gallium and germanium were subjected to export restrictions due to national security concerns. China holds dominant positions in mining both rare metals supplying around 80 percent of gallium production worldwide and 60 percent of germanium according Critical Raw Materials Alliance.
The risk associated with relying on communist China for critical minerals was highlighted when Beijing announced export controls on graphite essential for powering electric vehicles back in October 2023. Similarly controlling over 65 percent of global graphite supply prompted Chinese exporters since December that year required licenses before shipping natural or artificial graphite-related products following Washington’s new curbs on semiconductor exports.
U.S lawmakers have criticized these restrictions as evidence of weaponizing supply chain chokepoints by Chinese Communist Party while November saw further restrictions imposed by Beijing on rare earths -a group consisting seventeen elements widely used from electric cars manufacturing till military equipment whereof China enjoys monopoly supplier status
