50 Tons of Antimony to Be Exported Next Month
Korea Zinc, in partnership with a domestic company, will reprocess antimony-a strategic mineral essential for the defense and military industries-and export additional quantities to the United States.
On September 9, Korea Zinc announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with a domestic chemical manufacturer and will export 50 tons of antimony to the United States next month. Korea Zinc recovers antimony from by-products generated during the smelting of zinc and lead at its Onsan Smelter and supplies it to the domestic chemical manufacturer. This partner then reprocesses the material into antimony trioxide, and both companies collaborate to sell it to the United States. Previously, in June, Korea Zinc began directly exporting antimony ingots (metal) to the United States.
Antimony is an essential material used in various military and defense sectors, including ammunition, defense electronics, and protective alloys. As it is directly linked to national security, major countries strictly regulate antimony based on legal frameworks. In South Korea, antimony is classified as a critical mineral under the Special Act on National Resource Security, while in the United States, it is designated as a strategic mineral under the Energy Act of 2020 and the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
However, the global supply chain became unstable after China, which monopolizes the antimony market, implemented an export licensing system in August of last year and subsequently imposed export controls to the United States in December. As a result, major countries including the United States began seeking ways to secure a stable supply of strategic minerals such as antimony, drawing attention to Korea Zinc, the only domestic producer of antimony.
In June, Korea Zinc began direct exports to the United States by loading 20 tons of antimony onto a cargo ship bound for Baltimore, Maryland, at the Port of Busan. This antimony is supplied to more than 10 companies in the United States. Last month, Korea Zinc directly exported an additional 20 tons of antimony to the United States.
Korea Zinc plans to maximize its antimony recovery rate to increase exports of strategic minerals, thereby contributing to the stabilization of the global supply chain, economic security, and the strengthening of economic cooperation and alliance between South Korea and the United States. Based on direct exports, the company expects to ship around 100 tons of antimony to the United States this year, with a goal of exporting more than 240 tons next year-over twice as much as this year.
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