A semi-metal China supplies at roughly 60% of world output, antimony is critical for military munitions and flame retardants, and China weaponized its position with export controls from 2024.
The densest stable industrial metal, produced roughly 80% in China, whose February 2025 export controls repriced cutting-tool carbide and prompted a US defence procurement ban from January 2027.
full dossier ›Six metals underpinning semiconductors, defence alloys and autocatalysts where China or Russia controls supply, making export restrictions a primary geopolitical weapon.
China's controls on antimony created ongoing shortages a year on; tungsten hit $450/MTU and the US banned Chinese tungsten from defence procurement from January 2027. Almonty's Sangdong Phase 1 in South Korea targets 40% of ex-China supply