China to impose export controls on strategic metal antimony from September 15 By Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday it would impose export controls on antimony and other elements in the name of protecting national interests and security starting Sept. 15.

China, the world’s largest producer of antimony, a strategic metal used in flame retardants, batteries and ammunition, accounted for 48 percent of the world’s antimony mine output last year, US Geological Survey data showed.

It came after a wave of restrictions that he introduced since last year.

China has announced that it will ban the export of technology to make rare earth magnets, in addition to the ban already in place on the export of technology to extract and separate critical materials.

Beijing tightened exports of some graphite products last December.

It has also imposed restrictions on exports of gallium and germanium products, widely used in the semiconductor industry, since August last year.