Overview

• Beijing’s September 2024 export controls and December ban on shipments to the U.S. have cut global antimony exports to roughly a third of last year’s levels.
• The shortage has driven prices to over $60,000 per metric ton, more than quadrupling costs for industries reliant on the metal.
• Lead-acid battery manufacturers such as Clarios, Hoppecke and GS Yuasa have begun passing surging procurement costs on to customers.
• U.S. firms are sourcing antimony through premium grey markets and exploring partnerships in Australia and Tajikistan to diversify supplies.
• Proposals are in motion to restart domestic production, including reopening Idaho’s Stibnite mine and building new processing plants in the U.S.