Re: China's Antimony Curbs Expose U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

"A supply shortage has triggered the steepest rally in price “ever
recorded” in the global antimony market since April, according to
FastMarkets who began recording prices from January 1980.
In May, prices reached US$17,588.88 per metric ton of antimony ingot, up
54% in 2024, according to the Shanghai Metals Exchange; prices in Europe
reached US$22,700 a ton on June 14, up more than 75% on 2023.
And now China has announced it will impose export limits on antimony
because of “national security.”
The reason: an extreme shortage of supply from China, Russia, and south
east Asia, while demand from solar power soars.
“Antimony is becoming a crazy dangerous market… It is hurting the
industry, causing irreparable damage” — a trader told Argus, noting that
consumers are getting hit by the higher prices and reduced availability
..
Supply
China
Total global antimony mine production in 2023 was approximately 83,000
tonnes. The largest producer, by far, is China — but this is steadily
decreasing.
    in 2000, China produced 100,000 tonnes, out of a global total of
121,000 tonnes
    in 2024, China produces 40,000 tonnes, out of a total of 83,000
tonnes
Not only is China’s percentage falling, but supply elsewhere is not
acting as a substitute for the fall in China production."
https://theoregongroup.com/energy-transition/market-trends/why-are-antimony-prices-exploding/