From Asia Times, August 17:
China dominates supply and production of metalloid used in infrared missiles, nuclear weapons and night vision goggles
China will restrict shipments of antimony for reasons of national security, the latest measure in Beijing’s drive to curb exports of strategic metals amid a spiraling trade war with the West. The protectionist measure will take effect on September 15.
The shiny gray metalloid’s biggest application is as a flame retardant, which accounted for around half of global usage in 2023, Reuters said citing brokerage CICC. Around 20% is used to make photovoltaic glass to improve the performance of solar cells, with the rest used in lead-acid batteries, the Reuters report said.
Antimony is also used in military equipment such as infrared missiles, nuclear weapons and night vision goggles, and as a hardening agent for bullets and tanks.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the General Administration of Customs said in a statement on Thursday (August 15) that companies need permission from the government to export antimony ore deposits, oxides and hydrides, indium antimonides and organo-antimony compounds and gold-antimony separation technology.
“It is an international practice to implement export controls on antimony, superhard materials and other related items,” a spokesperson for the MoC said in a statement.....
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