China implements export controls on antimony products

Background

On August 15, China’s Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs issued an announcement to implement export controls on antimony and superhard materials-related items, which will be officially implemented from September 15. The announcement clearly states that items that meet the following characteristics shall not be exported without permission. Among them, antimony-related items include antimony ore and raw materials, metallic antimony and products, antimony oxides (purity greater than or equal to 99.99%), trimethyl antimony, triethyl antimony and other organic antimony compounds (purity greater than 99.999%), indium antimonide (single crystals with a dislocation density of less than 50 per square centimeter, polycrystalline with a purity greater than 99.99999%), and gold-antimony smelting and separation technology.

Reasons for China’s export controls on antimony

On the same day, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce responded to reporters’ questions about the export control policy on antimony and other items and stated that it is an internationally accepted practice to implement export controls on antimony and superhard materials related items. “China has learned from international practices and implemented export controls on relevant items according to its own needs, aiming to safeguard national security better and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation. The relevant policies are not targeted at any specific country or region. Exports that comply with relevant regulations will be permitted,” the spokesperson said.

Global antimony distribution

China is a major exporter of antimony. Global antimony ore production is mainly concentrated in China and Russia, accounting for a combined share of 72% in 2022. According to statistics from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), global antimony ore production reached 111,000 tons in year 2022, of which China’s production was the highest in the world, about 60,000 tons, accounting for 54% of global production, followed by Russia, with a production of 20,000 tons, accounting for 18% of global production. The top two countries’ combined share reached 72%.

Distribution of antimony in China

Chinese antimony mines are mainly distributed in Hunan, Guangxi, Tibet, Guizhou, Yunnan and other provinces, with advantages such as large reserves, many large mines, high grade, concentrated distribution and great economic value.

China’s antimony consumption structure

The main consumption structure of antimony in China is as follows, which is

  1. Flame retardant 55%
  2. Lead-acid battery 15%
  3. Glass-ceramic 10%
  4. Polyester catalyst 15%
  5. Other 5%

Main importers of antimony in China

The main export markets of antimony products in China include the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan Province of China, and India. In addition, the main exporters of unwrought antimony also include South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Belgium. Therefore, these countries or regions and regions will be the areas most affected by China’s antimony export control.

Export antimony procedures

Export operators should go through the export license procedures by relevant regulations, apply to the Ministry of Commerce through the provincial commerce department, fill in the export application form for dual-use items and technologies and submit the following documents:
(i) The original or a copy or scanned copy of the export contract or agreement consistent with the original;
(ii) The technical description or test report of the item to be exported;
(iii) Proof of end user and end use;
(iv) Introduction to the importer and end-user;
(v) ​​Identity certificate of the legal representative, main business manager and person in charge of the applicant.

 

Things to know for importers of Chinese antimony

1. Though control of export antimony dioxide is 99.9%, the truth is manufacturers also need to apply every batch for export 99.5-99.8% antimony products.

2. Different import countries have different policies, different manufacturers, and different policies.

2. export of 99.5-99.8% antimony dioxide policy changes with time.

3. explore antimony dioxide replacement for example BX FR PVC ST mainly in PVC application. and BX FR ST50 is PBT and nylon.

 

Reference link

https://xkzj.mofcom.gov.cn/tzgg/art/2024/art_d41b98d4ed494155b228c95f53f7a997.html