The global antimony market is experiencing a notable shift as China, traditionally the dominant producer, finds itself in a situation where it has to import the metal. This development signals a significant supply shortage within China, even amid restrictions on cross-border trade. As a result, internal Chinese prices for both antimony metal and antimony trioxide are on the rise. Given the underlying market dynamics, a weakening of prices appears unlikely in the foreseeable future.

One of the key drivers of this price increase is competition for raw materials. Chinese producers, once largely self-sufficient, are now forced to source antimony from international markets. This increases global demand, as Chinese buyers compete with international consumers for the limited supply. Meanwhile, antimony miners outside China are increasingly looking to European prices, where the end-product value is high. At the same time, China’s restricted export policies mean that local producers must raise domestic prices to match or exceed global price levels, ensuring they remain competitive in the market. This dual effect further tightens supply and drives up internal Chinese costs for both metal and trioxide.



Considering these elements, any expectation of a price decline seems unrealistic. The combination of constrained supply, heightened global competition, and opportunistic pricing behavior among Chinese producers creates an environment where prices are more likely to remain elevated or even increase further. Unless there is a significant shift in supply-side dynamics, such as a major new source of antimony production coming online or a sudden drop in demand, the market will continue to experience price resilience.

In conclusion, the current antimony price trend reflects a tight supply-demand balance, with China’s need for imports highlighting an ongoing shortage. As long as Chinese producers face challenges in securing raw materials and have to consider high global prices, the market is unlikely to see any significant price weakening. Instead, sustained upward pressure on antimony prices is the more probable scenario in the near term.