Korea Zinc to export antimony to US

South Korea’s largest zinc smelter, Korea Zinc Inc., plans to export antimony to the US. This rare metal is a flame retardant for batteries and semiconductors.

According to the domestic battery industry on Tuesday, the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Zinc will increase the amount of antimony exported each year, starting with 350 tons this year.

While the amount represents 0.02% of annual US imports (14,000 tons), industry sources estimated it could show South Korea's presence in the US government and the local rare metal industry, looking for alternatives to Chinese products. 

Antimony is classified as a strategic mineral asset because it's used in defense products such as infrared radars, missiles, and armor-piercing ammunition. 

Strategic mineral assets can only be exported with government authorization. 

The US has sourced antimony from China. Last year, 62% of antimony imports came from China. 

China is the largest producer, mining half of the world's antimony (86,400 tons last year). The nation has the world's largest processing capacity. China's share of 99% purity antimony is 48%.

Antimony prices were around $11,000 per ton at the end of 2023 on the Rotterdam Commodity Trading in the Netherlands and surged 268% to $45,000 per ton at the end of last year.

Write to Hyeon-woo Oh at ohw@hankyung.com