Beijing rolls out antimony export controls
China is tightening the screws on critical mineral exports.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) issued export controls on antimony-based materials and related refinery technologies.
- The controls, which require companies to get MofCom approval before exporting the above items, will go into effect on September 15.
ICYDK: Antimony is essential to a wide range of industries, including automotives, semiconductors, and military equipment.
- China is the world’s biggest producer of antimony, with about 48% of global mine production (Caixin).
Beijing’s motivation for the controls is unclear.
- These actions might be aimed at preparing for potential retaliation against future Western sanctions and tariffs, or preserving domestic reserves, or both.
Get smart: Last year, MofCom placed export controls on graphite, germanium, and gallium – which are also critical to various industrial sectors.
- There's little chance antimony will be the final critical mineral to get the export-control treatment.
Get smarter: The effectiveness of critical mineral export controls as a targeted retaliation tool is uncertain.
- Similar to Washington's challenges in preventing chip smuggling, Beijing will find it hard to stop third countries from acting as intermediaries for a targeted country, unless it completely shuts down critical minerals exports for everyone.
Curious about which mineral Beijing might target next? Check out our analysis of potential candidates – and get in touch if you would like to work with us on any specific projections.