China Increases Antimony Imports Amid Domestic Supply Challenges

Faced with dwindling domestic resources and environmental restrictions, Chinese smelters have turned to international markets to secure a stable supply of antimony ores and metals. This trend has been evident since the beginning of the year as major domestic mines approach resource exhaustion after extensive mining activities. Smaller deposits in provinces such as Guizhou and Guangxi have struggled to obtain mining licenses due to strict environmental protection measures.

According to Chinese customs data, the country imported 6,174 tons of antimony concentrate in July, a notable increase from 4,581 tons in June and 2,557 tons in July of the previous year. From January to July, total imports reached 32,054 tons, marking a 35% increase from the same period last year and a staggering 97% increase from January to July 2022.

Thailand and Myanmar have emerged as the primary suppliers of antimony concentrate to China this year, filling the gap left by Russia following the imposition of U.S. sanctions on the latter, which was previously a key source of supply.

In addition to concentrate, China also ramped up its imports of antimony metal in July due to limited domestic availability. Private smelters in Hunan province, which is the heart of China’s antimony production, have been operating at just 20-30% of their capacity in recent years. This is partly due to imported feedstock being prioritized for leading producers such as Hsiwangshan Twinkling Star, Chenzhou Mining, and Guangxi Youngsun. China imported 227 tons of antimony metal in July, up from 221 tons in June and significantly higher than the 49 tons imported in July 2022.