The company will supply antimony ingots to the stockpile and advance its domestic mining projects.
United States Antimony Corporation has secured a five-year, $245 million contract from the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to supply antimony ingots for the U.S. National Defense Stockpile. Deliveries are set to begin immediately from the company’s two North American smelters, which it says are the only facilities outside China capable of producing military-grade antimony. The funding will also support U.S. Antimony’s efforts to expand feedstock sourcing globally and advance its mining projects in Alaska and Montana, both of which are still in the exploration stage. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no antimony is currently mined domestically.
China Dominates the Global Antimony Supply Chain
The deal comes amid mounting concern over America’s reliance on Chinese supplies. In 2024, Beijing imposed export controls on antimony, sharply curtailing exports (we reported). China accounts for more than half of global mine production and over 85% of refining capacity, underscoring the need to secure alternative sources of supply. Antimony is used in flame retardants, batteries, and ammunition primers, with antimony trisulfide considered irreplaceable in certain types of munitions.
The contract for U.S. Antimony highlights Washington’s broader push to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals, including antimony. Earlier this year, the U.S. Army committed $6.9 million to Perpetua Resources’ Stibnite gold-antimony project in Idaho, the only domestic project with proven reserves.
More on antimony: In a deep dive, we explored the impact of China’s export controls, revealing a sharp drop in exports since the announcement.
Antimony exports from China over the last year.
Photo: Chettaprin Pimontaranukool via Canva