China Antimony Metal Output Drops Amid Concentrate Shortage

China Antimony

Smelters Struggle as Imports and Production Plunge

China antimony metal output declined sharply in the first quarter of 2025 due to a persistent concentrate shortage. Production fell to 11,831 tonnes, down 27% from the previous year, according to the China Nonferrous Metal Industry Association. This China antimony metal output decrease highlights tightening global ore availability and intensifying smelter constraints.

Concentrate supplies have been redirected away from China due to higher global prices and export controls. As a result, Chinese imports of antimony concentrate dropped 56% year-on-year to 9,557 tonnes. The depletion of domestic ore and environmental restrictions on smaller mines further reduced supply. These constraints have directly impacted China antimony metal output, limiting both primary metal and trioxide production.

While March saw a temporary uptick in metal output to 5,090 tonnes, the broader trend remains negative. Antimony trioxide output in March fell 11% year-on-year, and Q1 production dropped 19% to 18,328 tonnes. Global smelters outside China are capitalizing on diverted supply from Myanmar and Australia, which further strains Chinese output. Therefore, the ongoing China antimony metal output drop signals a structural shift in global antimony supply chains.

The Metalnomist Commentary

China’s declining antimony metal output underscores the geopolitical and geological fragility of critical mineral supply chains. With concentrate flows shifting and domestic resources dwindling, downstream industries may need to diversify sourcing strategies quickly.