COMMODITIES OUTLOOK
The growing strategic importance of antimony: How emerging projects could secure Western supply Antimony plays a key role in many industries that drive modern economies, ranging from defence and technology to renewable energy and aerospace. As the world increasingly seeks stable and secure mineral supply chains, the growth of these industries means antimony’s strategic importance is only increasing. This is largely driven by geopolitical tensions, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the rising demand for high-tech materials. As nations work to strengthen critical mineral independence, several new Western projects are emerging to diversify global supply, including Australia’s Hillgrove Project, developed by ASX- listed Larvotto Resources. Antimony’s rising significance in the global market The strategic value of antimony is surging across several critical sectors. One such industry is renewable energy, growing rapidly due to the increase in net-zero initiatives, where antimony is a key component of energy storage systems and liquid metal batteries. These batteries are increasingly seen as a long-term solution for grid-scale energy storage, improving the life cycle and capacity of these systems and thereby offering enhanced durability and efficiency. These qualities mean antimony is also a key element in bearings for wind turbines and glass clarification for solar energy, improving the performance of solar panels by enabling them to absorb more light and convert it into energy most effectively. As renewable energy solutions become central to global climate goals, the need for antimony is growing. In addition to its energy applications, antimony has applications in flame retardants, which are added to plastics, electronics, and textiles to enhance fire safety. It is also crucial to the production of semiconductors, alloys, and lead-free solders used in technological applications, increasing their conductivity and therefore performance. This makes the metal crucial to the development of high-performance quantum computers and data centres, as well as applications across other rapidly developing industries such as automotives and aerospace. Defence and geopolitical implications However, perhaps the most strategic use of antimony is in defence technologies. The metal is essential in the production of military-grade batteries, munitions, night vision goggles, explosives, flame-retardant uniforms and infrared sensors, making it a central part of global military logistics and operations. A clear indicator of the rising demand for antimony in the defence sector is the $245 million contract signed in September between the United States Antimony Corporation and the Pentagon – a five-year agreement which
secures the supply of antimony metal ingots for the country’s defence stockpile. This deal, which followed months of negotiations, underscores the critical need for a stable antimony supply for national defence in the face of evolving global challenges. It also reflects broader concerns about the strategic importance of antimony amid an increasingly volatile global landscape. This growing concern is compounded by China’s dominance in global production, accounting for nearly 50% of the world’s antimony supply. With recent disruptions in Chinese supply, driven by mine closures, stricter environmental regulations, and export restrictions last year, the urgency for securing alternative sources has intensified. Geopolitical tensions, particularly trade disputes and security concerns, have made the US and other nations wary of relying on foreign sources. In 2024, global antimony mine production totalled approximately 83 000 tonnes, with China contributing around 38 600 tonnes, or 46.5% of the global supply. This marked a slight decline from 2023, when China produced 40 000 tonnes. Myanmar, another key supplier and the fourth- largest antimony producer in 2024 also faced supply disruptions stemming from ongoing political instability. As the US, EU, UK, Japan, and Australia designate antimony as a critical mineral, the reliance on a handful of unstable sources is becoming a growing risk.
10 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | DECEMBER 2025 - JANUARY 2026
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