As of 2012, the volume of the world’s antimony reserves was estimated at around 1.83 million tonnes. China had the hugest reserves of antimony (950,000 tonnes), accounting for 52% of the world’s total antimony deposits. However, such countries as Russia, Bolivia, Tajikistan and South Africa also have substantial reserves.
Antimony: world reserves by country, 2012
During 2009-2011, the world antimony production followed an upward trend. Nevertheless, in 2012, the volume of the global antimony registered a 0.4% decline and totaled around 190,100 tonnes. China is the world leader in antimony production, accounting for a share of around 78.9% (nearly 150,000 tonnes). Other important antimony producers include Canada, South Africa, Bolivia and Russia.
Antimony: world production broken down by country, 2012
United States Antimony Corporation, Portage Minerals, Beaver Brook Antimony Mine, Empresa Minera Unificada S.A., Raptor Ventures LLC, GeoProMining, Hunan Chenzhou Mining Group Co., Yunnan Muli Antimony Industry Co. and Mandalay Resources Corp are among the top companies active in the world antimony market.
As far is China is concerned, its production of antimony remained at the same level in 2012, whilst the domestic consumption posted a 1.9% YoY increase. Nevertheless, the Chinese antimony market is not poised to witness significant growth in the offing. Despite possessing huge antimony reserves, China still has to import substantial amount of antimony concentrate in order to satisfy the domestic demand. Russia and Canada are the major suppliers of antimony to China; in 2012, these two countries accounted for over 33% of the total antimony imports in China.
China is closing down some of its antimony mines and smelters, which is likely to have a negative influence on the global antimony market. The world supply of antimony is forecast to decline amid a moderate increase in demand; as a result, the prices for the product are expected to go up in the oncoming years.
More information on the antimony market can be found in the study “Antimony: 2014 Market Review and Forecast”.