Overview

• U.S. imports of antimony, gallium and germanium this year are on track to match or surpass pre-ban levels despite Beijing’s December controls.
• Customs data show 3,834 metric tons of antimony oxides entered the U.S. from Thailand and Mexico between December and April, exceeding three-year totals.
• Thai Unipet Industries shipped over 3,366 tons of antimony products to the U.S. since December, around 27 times the volume a year earlier.
• China’s Commerce Ministry acknowledged in May that overseas entities colluded with domestic actors to evade export restrictions but enforcement gaps remain.
• U.S. buyers legally continue sourcing Chinese-origin minerals and rely on transshipment tactics such as relabeling cargo through third countries.