mineral · input
Used at 6–30% concentration in lead alloys for bullet cores; increases hardness and controls deformation. US produces zero antimony domestically (Sunshine Mine, Idaho, closed 2001). 100% US import dependency on China. Prices surged ~4x in 12 months (2024-25) to $51,500/tonne; NATO ammo ramp-up for Ukraine competing with electronics demand.
6
Source countries
3
Companies
1
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
1 essential American goods rely on antimony metal (bullet core hardener) somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| CNChina | 48% |
| RURussia | 20% |
| TJTajikistan | 13% |
| MMMyanmar | 7% |
| AUAustralia | 5% |
| BOBolivia | 4% |
Who makes it
3 companies produce antimony metal (bullet core hardener).
State-controlled Chinese antimony miner and smelter headquartered in Lengshuijiang, Hunan; operates the Hsikwangshan mine complex — the world's largest antimony deposit, mined continuously since the 1890s; produces approximately 25% of global antimony supply; fully integrated from ore to antimony trioxide; key supplier to Chinese flame retardant, semiconductor, and ammunition industries
Canadian mid-tier miner operating the Costerfield gold-antimony underground mine in Victoria, Australia; one of the few operating Western antimony producers; antimony is a by-product of gold mining at Costerfield; supplies ~2% of global antimony; also operates Björkdal gold mine in Sweden
US-listed mining company developing the Stibnite Gold-Antimony Project in Valley County, Idaho — the only permitted US antimony development project; received direct US Department of Defense funding under the Defense Production Act; EIS record of decision issued 2023; projected first production 2028; would supply approximately 35% of annual US antimony demand once fully operational
