WASHINGTON • Unusually high volumes of antimony—a critical metal used in batteries, semiconductors, and flame retardants—have entered the United States from Thailand and Mexico in recent months, raising questions about the effectiveness of China’s export restrictions on key strategic minerals.
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According to customs and shipping data reviewed by Reuters, the sharp increase in shipments began after China imposed a ban on antimony exports to the U.S. on December 3, 2024. The data also reveal that at least one Chinese-owned firm is involved in facilitating these redirected trade flows, despite Beijing’s efforts to tighten control over the export of certain minerals.
Strategic Mineral Realignment
China is the world’s dominant supplier of antimony, along with other critical elements such as gallium and germanium, which are essential to sectors including telecommunications, semiconductors, and defense. Beijing’s export ban came in direct response to U.S. trade and technology restrictions targeting China’s chip industry, part of a broader geopolitical contest for dominance in high-tech manufacturing and military capabilities.
The re-routing of shipments through third-party countries such as Thailand and Mexico highlights the challenges Beijing faces in enforcing its trade curbs, as well as the global scramble for critical raw materials. Chinese officials have previously acknowledged concerns about circumvention through indirect supply routes.
Industry Confirms Ongoing Supply from China
At least three industry experts, including two executives at U.S.-based companies, confirmed to Reuters that they had successfully obtained antimony and other restricted minerals from China in recent months, despite the official ban. The findings suggest that trade enforcement loopholes and strategic re-exporting practices are enabling continued flow of these minerals into the United States.
The developments underscore the complexity of regulating mineral exports in a globalized supply chain, especially for elements that are foundational to next-generation technologies and national security infrastructure.
As the U.S. continues to invest in domestic sourcing and allied supply chains for critical minerals, the evolving trade landscape with China remains a focal point of both economic policy and strategic defense planning
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