Introduction to Antimony

If antimony has recently entered your awareness for the first time since high school chemistry, you are not alone.  This semi-metallic element has quietly become the talk of the town as industries and governments around the world turn their eyes to it. With applications ranging from flame retardants to military alloys, antimony has found itself at the intersection of global demand and limited supply. This introduction to antimony will answer your questions about this element and its newfound popularity.

What Is Antimony?

Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb (from Latin stibium) and atomic number 51. It typically occurs in nature as the sulfide mineral stibnite, and appears as a lustrous grey metal or metalloid. Scientists define a metalloid as an element that shares characteristics with both metals and nonmetals. It is hard, shiny, and brittle. These characteristics make it useful in industrial applications, but challenging to work with in its pure form. 

Antimony sits in Group 15, also known as the nitrogen family. It sits alongside other elements such as arsenic and bismuth. Also located in Period 5 of the periodic table, it falls into the p-block. This location reflects its electron configuration and behavior. 

Antimony has been used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes since at least 3100 BC. Archaeologists have uncovered stibnite-based eyeline in burial sites from predynastic Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia. Medieval alchemists described antimony’s metallic form, though Historians have not credited any single person with discovering the element. Vannoccio Biringuccio wrote the first detailed Western account in 1540.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Antimony

At room temperature, antimony is a solid with a silvery-gray, metallic appearance. It has a shiny surface but is very brittle. When struck, it can easily break or shatter. Unlike metals such as copper or gold, antimony is not easily shaped into wires or sheets.

Antimony is not a transition metal. It belongs to a group of elements called metalloids. This group exhibits properties of both metals and nonmetals. For example, it can conduct electricity like a metal, but it doesn’t bend or stretch easily. 

Chemically, antimony is stable in air at room temperature. However, it can become reactive when heated. It can burn and release toxic fumes when exposed to high temperatures. Antimony compounds, especially in the form of dust or powder, can be harmful if inhaled or ingested. Handling requires proper safety precautions.

How Antimony Is Mined and Refined

Most of the world’s antimony (83% in 2023) is sourced from a few countries, including China, Russia, and Tajikistan, with China being the largest producer. These three countries account for the majority of the global supply. This concentration of antimony production makes the market vulnerable to fluctuations.

Antimony most commonly occurs in nature as stibnite, but it also appears in smaller amounts in complex ores. Stibnite remains the primary commercial source of antimony, however. 

Once mined, antimony has to be processed to separate the metal from the rock. Processors first crush the ore into smaller pieces, then heat them in an industrial roasting furnace at very high temperatures (around 500-600°C). This heating process causes a chemical reaction with oxygen, burning off the sulfur and forming a material called antimony oxide. Creating this antimony oxide is a crucial step in the process because it facilitates the extraction of the pure metal in the next stage. 

Common Uses of Antimony

Antimony is used in many applications, some of which are crucial to our everyday life. Without it, our world would look very different. Here are a few of the most common applications of antimony in technology and textiles.

Flame retardants

Antimony has a variety of commercial and industrial uses. One of the most common uses of antimony is in flame retardants. Antimony trioxide, a white powder made from antimony, is added to plastics, textiles, and building materials to help slow the spread of fire. This flame-retardant accounts for approximately 43-48% of global antimony consumption. While it doesn’t put out flames, it does work with other chemicals to make materials less flammable. 

Alloys

Antimony is highly desirable because of its use in metal alloys. To create an alloy, two or more elements, one of which is a metal, must combine. Alloys improve the properties of pure metals, which are typically too soft and not durable enough for everyday use. 

When combined with lead, antimony creates a harder, more durable alloy. This durability is highly desirable in the production of items such as car batteries, bullets, and cable sheathing. These items typically endure considerable wear and tear.

Semiconductors and electronics

The electronics industry also utilizes antimony in small quantities. In a process known as doping, engineers combine antimony with a base material, such as silicon. The combination changes the way that electricity flows through the base material. The results are a material that can carry signals more precisely. This new conductivity is highly desirable when creating devices such as infrared sensors, transistors, and light detectors. 

Less common uses of antimony involve combining the element with other elements to create a type of semiconductor known as compound semiconductors. These compound semiconductors are used in devices such as fiber-optic cables, LED lights, or night vision equipment when the need to react quickly or pick up very weak signals is present. While its use in electronics is less everyday than other uses, antimony helps make some technologies faster, more accurate, or more sensitive to light and heat. 

Glass and ceramics

The same compound used in flame retardants, antimony trioxide, is also used in the production of glass and ceramics. When added, it helps to improve the appearance and quality of the glass by removing bubbles and preventing discoloration. 

When used with certain types of ceramics and enamels, antimony helps maintain color stability and surface smoothness. Manufacturers utilize it in everything from glass cookware to decorative tiles due to its ability to preserve color and surface quality.

Is Antimony Valuable?

Antimony is valuable, but not in the same way as precious metals such as gold and silver. Its value lies in its industrial demand. Several factors influence the price of antimony, including global supply, trade restrictions, and geopolitical considerations. 

The price of antimony at the beginning of 2025 ranged from $11,000 to $13,000 per metric ton (about $5-$6 per pound). By March, the antimony spot price had reached a new all-time high, trading at $51,500 per ton. Antimony is sold in large quantities to manufacturers as opposed to small amounts to individuals. 

Following its March 2025 peak, antimony prices began to decline as the high cost started to suppress downstream demand. Prices fell from approximately ¥238,000 per metric ton (about $35,000 per ton or $15.87 per pound) in late April to around ¥186,500 (about $27,500 per ton or $12.47 per pound) by the end of June. As of July 23, 2025, the price sits at approximately $26,000 per metric ton (about $11.79 per pound). (metal.com)

Sources for Antimony Price Table and Chart

• USGS – Mineral Commodity Summary 2024 (PDF)
• RFC Ambrian – Antimony Report (Feb 2025)
• Metal.com – Spot Price Update (July 2025)

China controls a significant portion of the global supply chain and engages in extensive international trade. Because it plays such an essential role in manufacturing many commodities, antimony’s value does not lie in the raw element itself, but rather in what it can help create.

Recent News and Trends in the Antimony Market

Antimony begins to enter the everyday American consciousness as its scarcity starts to impact the economy and pique people’s interest.

Why antimony is in the news

The price of antimony has begun to rise. As part of a retaliatory measure in response to U.S. chip restrictions, China banned exports to the U.S. As a result, China’s antimony exports dropped by 88% in June 2025, compared to January. 

Antimony’s role in renewable energy & defense

Antimony plays a critical role in renewable energy and defense. It is an essential element of lead-acid batteries used in grid energy storage and traditional autos. The element also plays a critical role in solar panel production. Military systems, such as night-vision equipment and infrared missiles, also heavily depend on antimony.

The U.S. looks to domestic sources

At present, the United States does not mine antimony. Therefore, it must import or recover it from recycled products, such as old batteries. By 2028, a domestic operator based in Idaho plans to reopen the Stibnite antimony mine. 

Why this matters

With China restricting the export of antimony and production concentrated in a few countries, the U.S. needs to find a way to diversify and secure alternative supply chains quickly. These efforts may involve increasing recycling efforts, developing domestic mines, or expanding processing capabilities. If not, antimony costs will continue to rise, and in turn, so will the costs of everything that relies on it. 

Final Thoughts: Why Antimony Matters

Although antimony may remain unknown to so many, it plays a critical role in industries that power our everyday lives. Without antimony, industries such as energy storage, electronics, military technology, and fire safety would face significant challenges. Its unique properties make it irreplaceable in so many applications. Its limited supply has prompted many industry leaders to turn their attention to the issue.  

Expect the demand for antimony to remain strong, particularly since many industries rely on it. However, due to China’s control over production, countries are now seeking new ways to source and invest in recycling and domestic production. For now, antimony remains a behind-the-scenes element with big-picture importance. Due to rising demand and restricted supply, antimony is likely to remain in the news.