Antimony market 2026: supply, trade and buyer risk.
A procurement-focused review of official 2025 production and trade data, China-related policy changes, price context and the shipment evidence industrial buyers should verify before comparing antimony offers.
What industrial buyers need to know before reading the detail.
The page separates official market facts from AHR calculations and buyer guidance. It does not present a live antimony price or promise that one grade can replace another.
Yes. China, Russia and Tajikistan accounted for about 85.5% of the rounded 2025 world mine total reported by USGS.[1]
USGS estimates declined from 119,000 tonnes in 2024 to 110,000 tonnes in 2025. AHR calculates a 7.6% year-on-year reduction.[1]
No. It is the USGS 2025 average for minimum 99.65% antimony metal on a cost, insurance and freight basis. It is not a live ore, concentrate or oxide quotation.[1]
Eurostat reports lower covered import volume, sharply higher prices and a 2025 origin mix led by Tajikistan at 52%. The dataset scope is limited to selected customs codes.[2]
China introduced licensing controls in September 2024. A November 2025 U.S.-China statement later described general licenses for U.S. end users, so route-specific status must be rechecked.[3][4]
The same material form, dry or wet basis, Sb assay, impurity limits, packing, quantity, origin, Incoterm, inspection scope and quotation date.
How this review was calculated and checked.
Authority depends on showing the method, not only listing sources. These rules define what the page includes and what it deliberately excludes.
- Primary evidence
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Eurostat’s 2025 critical raw material trade article, the European Commission JRC policy brief and the November 2025 White House fact sheet.
- AHR calculations
- Production decline = (110,000 – 119,000) / 119,000. Top-three share = (40,000 + 32,000 + 22,000) / 110,000. Results are rounded to one decimal place.
- Price boundary
- The article uses historical official benchmarks only. It does not reproduce a live proprietary price feed and does not convert a metal benchmark into an ore or concentrate offer.
- Trade boundary
- Eurostat’s antimony section covers antimony oxides and unwrought antimony in powder form under available customs classifications. It is not the whole market for ore, concentrate, ingots and every compound.
- Update policy
- Review after a new USGS annual summary, a material export-control change, a major customs-data revision or a change to AHR’s buyer documentation process.
Production is both smaller and concentrated.
USGS estimated 2025 world output at 110,000 tonnes of contained antimony. The rounded total means country shares are directional rather than accounting totals.
| Country | 2025 estimate | Approx. world share | Buyer relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 40,000 t | 36.4% | Large production base and a central policy influence across raw materials, metal and high-purity oxides. |
| Russia | 32,000 t | 29.1% | Large mine contribution, but route, banking, origin and compliance checks can affect commercial feasibility. |
| Tajikistan | 22,000 t | 20.0% | Important mine source and the leading origin in Eurostat’s covered 2025 EU import view. |
| Bolivia | 5,000 t | 4.5% | Alternative origin, subject to grade, mine-to-export route and shipment evidence. |
| Myanmar | 4,500 t | 4.1% | Relevant production, with heightened origin, route and compliance due diligence. |
| Türkiye | 3,000 t | 2.7% | Smaller mine source with regional logistics relevance. |
Mine tonnage does not equal available buyer tonnage.
A national mine estimate does not confirm that a specific lot is exportable, processed to the required form, free of commercial restrictions or supported by adequate documents. Therefore, a buyer should treat production statistics as market context, not proof of available supply.
- Contained antimony estimates do not state the saleable concentrate grade.
- Country output does not identify the owner, mine, processor or export route.
- Mine production does not confirm moisture, arsenic, lead, sulfur or other impurity limits.
- Policy, licensing, banking and shipping constraints can reduce practical availability.
- Warehouse stock, production schedule and allocation require separate confirmation.
Export controls changed the market, but status is route-specific.
The strongest buyer response is not speculation. It is a dated compliance check for the exact origin, destination, end user, product form and controlled technology.
China announced controls
The JRC records China’s announcement of new controls covering antimony raw materials, metal, oxides and selected technologies.
Dual-use licensing began
The controls took effect and required export licensing for covered antimony items.[3]
U.S.-directed restrictions tightened
USGS states that China banned all antimony exports to the United States in December 2024, contributing to price pressure.[1]
General licenses were announced for U.S. end users
A White House fact sheet said China would issue general licenses for exports of antimony and other critical minerals benefiting U.S. end users and their suppliers. This does not remove the need to verify current licensing and end-use conditions.[4]
Buyer control: Do not rely on an old policy summary. Before contract, ask the exporter and compliance adviser to confirm the current control status, license responsibility, end-user statement, destination rules and document trail for the actual product.
Covered imports fell while prices and concentration rose.
Eurostat reports 21,000 tonnes of covered antimony imports in 2025, down from 25,000 tonnes in 2019, while covered exports rose to 12,900 tonnes.
21,000 t
Covered EU imports in 2025.
12,900 t
Covered EU exports in 2025.
+167%
Annual increase from 2024 to 2025.
+180%
Annual increase from 2024 to 2025.
| Origin | Share | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Tajikistan | 52% | The largest covered origin, creating a new concentration point for EU buyers. |
| Vietnam | 12% | A meaningful secondary origin in the value-based partner view. |
| Myanmar | 9% | A notable origin requiring route and compliance review. |
| China | 3% | Down from 16% in 2024 for the covered customs scope. |
Eurostat limits this section to antimony oxides and unwrought antimony in powder form because of available classifications. Do not apply these percentages to all ore, concentrate, ingot and compound trade.[2]
Demand is linked to form and chemistry.
USGS reports U.S. use categories across metal products, antimonial lead and ammunition, and nonmetal products. The JRC describes routes from stibnite ore to antimony metal or antimony trioxide, with different downstream uses.[1][3]
- Lead alloys: antimony can increase hardness in selected battery and alloy systems.
- Flame-retardant systems: antimony trioxide is used as a synergist in selected formulations.
- Glass, ceramics and rubber: suitability depends on compound, purity and downstream specification.
- Electronics and defence: controlled end uses can create additional compliance and documentation needs.
A demand headline does not prove suitability. State the application before asking a supplier to recommend ore, concentrate, metal, oxide or an alloy.
Do not compare offers until the material basis matches.
The word “antimony” can describe products with very different valuation, handling and evidence requirements.
Stibnite-bearing material
Compare Sb assay, mineralogy, moisture, particle size, penalty elements, minimum lot and beneficiation route.
Upgraded sulfide material
Compare dry metric tonnes, Sb percentage, moisture, arsenic and other impurities, payable basis, deductions and inspection method.
Ingots or powder
Compare purity, grade standard, size, packing, lot traceability, warehouse basis and delivery terms.
Antimony trioxide
Compare chemical purity, particle properties, restricted impurities, application fit, packaging and regulatory documentation.
Dry tonnes and contained Sb
This tool normalizes physical quantity only. It does not calculate a final payable value.
Formula: dry tonnes = gross tonnes x (1 – moisture/100). Contained Sb = dry tonnes x assay/100. Contract settlement may also include payability, treatment charges, penalties, minimum deductions and umpire assay rules.
Historical benchmarks are not shipment quotes.
USGS reports a 2025 average of $25 per pound for minimum 99.65% antimony metal, compared with $10.24 in 2024. It also reports $27.50 per pound in June 2025 and $20.30 in November 2025.[1]
- Do not apply a refined metal benchmark directly to ore or concentrate.
- Record the assessment date and quotation validity.
- Confirm warehouse, freight, insurance, duty and Incoterm basis.
- Normalize wet and dry tonnes before comparing concentrate offers.
- Separate contained Sb value from deductions and commercial charges.
Sampling and assay determine whether the commercial basis is defensible.
A certificate is useful only when the sample, lot, method and document identity can be connected to the shipment being purchased.
- Identify the lot, bags, truckloads or stockpile represented by the sample.
- Agree the sampling point: production, warehouse, loading, discharge or independent inspection.
- Record increment count, composite preparation, sealing and chain of custody.
- Retain buyer, seller and umpire portions when the contract requires dispute resolution.
- State whether moisture is sampled and reported separately from the chemistry sample.
- Match the report to the lot number, sample ID and issue date.
- State the analytical method and reporting basis for Sb and restricted impurities.
- Check detection limits when a buyer sets low maximum impurity values.
- Define which laboratory result controls settlement and when an umpire result applies.
- Do not treat an undated generic Certificate of Analysis as shipment-specific proof.
Logistics evidence should match the commercial lot.
- Bag type, net weight, palletization and container loading plan.
- Container number, seal number and loading photographs where agreed.
- Packing list, commercial invoice, origin evidence and transport document.
- Safety Data Sheet and dangerous-goods classification review where applicable.
- Inspection certificate and weight certificate if required by contract.
- Destination import, end-use and controlled-product requirements.
A realistic logistics plan is part of the offer. A low product price without a defined route, packing basis and document responsibility is not a comparable landed proposal.
Six failure points that change cost, timing or acceptance.
The purpose is not to remove all risk. It is to expose material differences before payment, production planning and vessel or container booking.
Unmatched assay basis
HighWet and dry basis, sample identity or analytical method differs between offers. Normalize the basis and define the settlement certificate.
Unclear origin or route
HighThe seller cannot show mine, processor, warehouse or export chain. Require origin evidence and route-specific compliance review.
Policy or license change
HighAn old market article is treated as current legal status. Recheck licensing, end-user and destination rules before contract and shipment.
Generic documentation
MediumCoA, Safety Data Sheet or inspection report does not identify the shipment lot. Require lot-linked evidence and a document list.
Unpriced logistics scope
MediumFreight, insurance, handling, inspection or duty responsibility is omitted. Compare offers on the same Incoterm and destination basis.
Short quotation validity
ManagePrice changes before internal approval. Record quote date, validity, quantity window and conditions for repricing.
Send a requirement that produces a comparable antimony quotation.
A complete request for quotation reduces follow-up, prevents false comparisons and gives the supplier enough information to review product fit and shipment feasibility.
Material and application
State ore, concentrate, metal, oxide or alloy; target end use; and whether a specific standard or buyer specification applies.
Chemical specification
Provide target Sb, minimum and maximum range, moisture basis, restricted impurities, analytical method and any particle or physical requirements.
Quantity and schedule
State trial lot, monthly volume, annual estimate, required delivery window and whether partial shipments are acceptable.
Packing and route
Give bag or ingot packing requirements, palletization, destination port or site, preferred Incoterm and container or bulk-shipment constraints.
Evidence and inspection
List required CoA, Safety Data Sheet, origin record, assay, inspection, weight, packing and shipment documents. Name preferred third-party inspectors if applicable.
Commercial conditions
State currency, payment preference, quotation validity, buyer entity, end user, compliance disclosures and any prequalification steps.
Antimony market and procurement FAQ.
Concise answers for searchers who need market context before requesting a shipment quotation.
What is the antimony market outlook for industrial buyers in 2026?
Official 2025 data shows lower world mine production, high geographic concentration and sharply higher covered EU trade prices. For 2026 purchasing, the practical issue is not only market direction. Buyers need route-specific policy checks, a matched product basis and shipment-linked evidence.
Which countries produced the most antimony in 2025?
USGS estimates China at 40,000 tonnes, Russia at 32,000 tonnes and Tajikistan at 22,000 tonnes of contained antimony. Together they equal about 85.5% of the rounded world total.
What is the current antimony price?
This page does not provide a live price. USGS reports a 2025 average of $25 per pound for minimum 99.65% metal, but current offers vary by date, form, grade, origin, quantity, warehouse or delivery basis and documentation.
How should buyers compare antimony concentrate offers?
Use the same dry-tonne basis, Sb assay, moisture, impurity limits, payable percentage, treatment charges, penalties, sampling method, settlement laboratory, packing, quantity, Incoterm and destination.
Which documents should accompany an antimony shipment?
The exact list depends on product and route. Common records include a shipment-specific Certificate of Analysis, Safety Data Sheet, commercial invoice, packing list, origin evidence, transport document, weight certificate and third-party inspection report when contracted.
Are China’s antimony export controls still relevant?
Yes, but status can differ by product, destination, end user and date. China introduced licensing controls in 2024. A November 2025 U.S.-China statement described general licenses for U.S. end users, so every buyer should obtain current route-specific compliance advice.
Why can ore, concentrate and metal prices not be compared directly?
They differ in Sb content, moisture, processing stage, impurity risk, recovery, commercial deductions, logistics and end use. A refined metal benchmark is not a direct price for ore or concentrate.
Can a generic CoA prove shipment quality?
No. A useful Certificate of Analysis should connect to the actual lot through sample ID, lot or batch reference, date, analytical method and issuing laboratory. Contract terms should also define which result controls settlement.
How to cite this market review
Al Habtoor Resources Technical Review Desk. "Antimony Market 2026: Supply, Trade and Buyer Risk." Al Habtoor Resources Knowledge, 11 July 2026. https://habtoorresources.com/knowledge/antimony-market/For a statistic, cite the original official source and identify AHR where the percentage is an AHR calculation.
Use the data with scope intact.
- Keep the year and unit with every production figure.
- Label the 7.6% decline and 85.5% top-three share as AHR calculations from USGS data.
- Keep Eurostat’s customs-scope limitation with EU trade figures.
- Do not label historical USGS metal prices as a current quotation.
- Link to this page and the original official source when republishing a chart or table.
Sources, scope and publication record.
External facts are linked to primary public sources. Buyer guidance and calculations are identified as AHR analysis.
- U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Antimony. February 2026. Production, uses, import reliance, recycling and historical price data. Open USGS PDF.
- Eurostat. International trade in critical raw materials, Antimony section. 2025 volumes, price changes and origin shares for the covered customs scope. Open Eurostat.
- European Commission Joint Research Centre. China’s Antimony Export Controls: Risks and Opportunities for the EU. JRC141454. Policy timing, product coverage, value chain and trade analysis. Open JRC publication.
- The White House. Fact Sheet: U.S.-China economic and trade relations. 1 November 2025. Statement on general licenses for rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for U.S. end users. Open fact sheet.
Editorial record: published 11 July 2026 and reviewed 12 July 2026 by Al Habtoor Resources Technical Review Desk. No live price feed, paid market forecast or supplier availability claim is embedded in the article.
Need an antimony requirement reviewed?
Send the material form, target Sb, impurity limits, quantity, destination, Incoterm and required documents. AHR can review product fit and missing information before preparing a written quotation.