Antimony Market Trends and Outlook
Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb (from Latin stibium) and atomic number 51. This brittle, silvery bluish white crystalline solid is a semi-metal with a flaky texture, primarily occurring as the gray sulfide mineral ore, stibnite (Sb2S3), and another ore called valentinite (Sb2O3). Antimony is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, is stable in dry air and is immune to attacks by dilute acids or alkalis. The element is present in the Earth's crust at a concentration of 0.2-0.5 parts per million. According to data from 2022, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Myanmar and Australia together account for over 95% of the global Antimony production, with China, Russia, Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Australia and Turkey cornering nearly 90% of the worldwide reserves of this element.
The global demand for Antimony is estimated at US$2.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$3.5 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.2% between the two years.
The major factors driving demand for Antimony include its extensive use in flame retardants and lead acid batteries, as also in electrical & electronics and plastic additives. The demand for Antimony is directly related to its use in compound (whether trioxide or pentoxide) and other forms in various industries. For instance, antimony in the trioxide or pentoxide compound form finds principal application in flame retardants. These flame retardants are further extensively utilized in the production of construction materials, plastics, textiles and electrical & electronic components. Antimony-lead alloys are used in lead acid batteries for enhancing the strength, corrosion resistance and castability of battery grids. The major areas where these batteries are used include vehicles, renewable energy storage, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), telecommunications and off-grid housing. Although lithium-ion batteries are typically used to power electric vehicles (EVs), the use of lead acid batteries is also prevalent, primarily for starting engines, as a source of standby power and for ancillary loads.
Antimony Regional Market Analysis
With a market share of nearly 44% estimated in 2024, Asia-Pacific leads the demand for Antimony on a global basis and is also anticipated to generate the fastest growth. Additionally, China's dominance as the number one producer and consumer of Antimony has remained unchallenged for some time now and would continue to be so. The region's burgeoning automotive and electrical & electronics industries demand the use of effective antimony-based flame retardants and alloys for various applications. Further, Asia-Pacific is also home to a huge chemical industry, where antimony and its compounds find extensive application. North America and Europe, together accounting for over 40% share of the global Antimony demand in 2024, are the other major markets. The main applications for Antimony in these regions are centered around the automotive and plastics industries. However, these markets are also characterized by stringent industrial regulatory and safety standards in the areas of environmental and personnel protection, which has put brakes on further demand for the element and its compounds. Recycling of old lead acid batteries to obtain antimony has been an effective strategy to curb ecological harm in these markets, a trend that is now catching up in other regions, too.
Antimony Market Analysis by Product Type
By product type, the global market for Antimony has been categorized into Alloys, Metal Ingots, Antimony Pentoxide and Antimony Trioxide, among which the latter accounts for the largest share. Trioxide and pentoxide are the most widely used compound forms of Antimony, with alloys and metal ingots accounting for lesser. Antimony trioxide's largest application is as an additive to flame retardants for making them more effective in safeguarding consumer products, such as textiles, plastics, carpets and upholstered furniture. The compound can also be combined with halogenated (brominated) flame retardants and zinc borate. Other applications include as an additive in glass & ceramics, as a paint pigment, as an additive in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics (which are further used to make plastic water bottles and ovenproof or microwaveable plastic trays), as a catalyst in the polymerization of polyester and as a phosphor. General applications of Antimony comprise diodes, infrared detectors & other semiconductor devices for electronics, hardener for increasing hardness of alloys, such as lead alloys for batteries & lead/copper/tin alloys for machine bearings, cable sheathing and making safety matches.
Antimony Market Analysis by Application
Antimony in its Pentoxide and Trioxide compound forms is most widely used to make Flame Retardants. While these oxides of the element do not inherently possess flame retardant properties, combining them with bromine- or chlorine-based flame retardants allows them to function as synergists. In other words, Antimony Oxides perform the role of catalysts to cause a faster break down of bromine or chlorine, which releases active halogen atoms into the gas phase at a quicker rate. The use of Flame Retardants across a gamut of industries, such as automotive, construction and electronics is quite prevalent, owing to which this application for Antimony will maintain good growth.
Antimony End-Use Sector Market Analysis
Among the Automotive, Chemical and Electrical & Electronics sectors, the market for Antimony is led by Chemicals. Major uses for this element in the Chemical sector include the manufacture of flame retardants, catalysts and stabilizers. Lead acid batteries, used for starting, lighting & ignition, comprise the primary application of Antimony as an alloy combined with lead in the Automotive sector, the demand for which will likely record the fastest growth. This can be attributed to the growing use of these batteries in electric vehicles (EVs), apart from the standard lithium-ion batteries used. Antimony's use in flame retardants for the Electrical & Electronics sector covers electronic devices, components and housing to safeguard against fire in these products. The element is also used in semiconductors and other electronic components.
Antimony Market Report Scope
This global report on Antimony analyzes the market based on product type, application and end-use sector. In addition to providing profiles of major companies operating in this space, the latest corporate and industrial developments have been covered to offer a clear panorama of how and where the market is progressing..
Key Metrics
Historical Period: | 2021-2023 | |
Base Year: | 2023 | |
Forecast Period: | 2024-2030 | |
Units: | Value market in US$ | |
Companies Mentioned: | 30+ |
Antimony Market by Geographic Region
- North America (The United States, Canada and Mexico)
- Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, The United Kingdom and Rest of Europe)
- Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
- South America (Argentina, Brazil and Rest of South America)
- Middle East & Africa
Antimony Market by Product Type
- Alloys
- Metal Ingots
- Antimony Pentoxide
- Antimony Trioxide
Antimony Market by Application
- Ceramics & Glass
- Chemicals & Alloys
- Flame Retardants
- Lead Acid Batteries
- Plastic Additives
- Other Applications (Incl. Alloy Strengthening Agents, Enamels & Semiconductors)
Antimony Market by End-Use Sector
- Automotive
- Chemical
- Electrical & Electronics
Antimony Market Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The global Antimony market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% during the 2024-2030 analysis period.
Asia-Pacific forms the largest global market for Antimony.
Asia-Pacific is also likely to be the fastest growing region for Antimony.
Antimony Trioxide accounts for the largest share of the Antimony market.
Automotive is the fastest growing end-use sector of the Antimony market.
Major factors driving the demand for Antimony include its wide use as a flame retardant, as an alloy combined with lead in lead acid batteries, as an additive in plastics & pigments and as a catalyst and phosphor.
PART A: GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE
1. Introduction
- Product Outline
- Antimony Defined
- Antimony Market by Product Type
- Alloys
- Metal Ingots
- Antimony Pentoxide
- Antimony Trioxide
- Antimony Market By Application
- Ceramics & Glass
- Chemicals & Alloys
- Flame Retardants
- Lead Acid Batteries
- Plastic Additives
- Other Applications
- Antimony Market By End-Use Sector
- Automotive
- Chemical
- Electrical & Electronics
2. Key Market Trends
3. Key Global Players
4. Key Business & Product Trends
5. Global Market Overview
- Global Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Antimony Product Type Market Overview by Global Region
- Alloys
- Metal Ingots
- Antimony Pentoxide
- Antimony Trioxide
- Global Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Ceramics & Glass
- Chemicals & Alloys
- Flame Retardants
- Lead Acid Batteries
- Plastic Additives
- Other Applications
- Global Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Antimony End-Use Sector Market Overview by Global Region
- Automotive
- Chemical
- Electrical & Electronics
PART B: REGIONAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE
- Global Antimony Market Overview by Geographic Region
REGIONAL MARKET OVERVIEW
6. North America
- North American Antimony Market Overview by Geographic Region
- North American Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- North American Antimony Market Overview by Application
- North American Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Country-wise Analysis of North American Antimony Market
- The United States
- United States Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- United States Antimony Market Overview by Application
- United States Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Canada
- Canadian Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Canadian Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Canadian Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Mexico
- Mexican Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Mexican Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Mexican Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
7. Europe
- European Antimony Market Overview by Geographic Region
- European Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- European Antimony Market Overview by Application
- European Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Country-wise Analysis of European Antimony Market
- France
- French Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- French Antimony Market Overview by Application
- French Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Germany
- German Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- German Antimony Market Overview by Application
- German Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Italy
- Italian Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Italian Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Italian Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Russia
- Russian Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Russian Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Russian Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Spain
- Spanish Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Spanish Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Spanish Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- The United Kingdom
- United Kingdom Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- United Kingdom Antimony Market Overview by Application
- United Kingdom Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Rest of Europe
- Rest of Europe Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Rest of Europe Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Rest of Europe Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
8. Asia-Pacific
- Asia-Pacific Antimony Market Overview by Geographic Region
- Asia-Pacific Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Asia-Pacific Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Asia-Pacific Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Country-wise Analysis of Asia-Pacific Antimony Market
- China
- Chinese Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Chinese Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Chinese Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- India
- Indian Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Indian Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Indian Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Japan
- Japanese Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Japanese Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Japanese Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- South Korea
- South Korean Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- South Korean Antimony Market Overview by Application
- South Korean Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Rest of Asia-Pacific Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Rest of Asia-Pacific Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Rest of Asia-Pacific Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
9. South America
- South American Antimony Market Overview by Geographic Region
- South American Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- South American Antimony Market Overview by Application
- South American Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Country-wise Analysis of South American Antimony Market
- Argentina
- Argentine Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Argentine Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Argentine Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Brazil
- Brazilian Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Brazilian Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Brazilian Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
- Rest of South America
- Rest of South American Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Rest of South American Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Rest of South American Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
10. Middle East & Africa
- Middle East & Africa Antimony Market Overview by Product Type
- Middle East & Africa Antimony Market Overview by Application
- Middle East & Africa Antimony Market Overview by End-Use Sector
PART C: GUIDE TO THE INDUSTRY
PART D: ANNEXURE
1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
2. FEEDBACK
American Elements
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group NV
Amspec Chemical Corp
Anhua Huayu Antimony Industry Co. Ltd.
Atomized Products Group, Inc.
BASF SE
Beijing North Xinyuan Electrical Carbon Products Co Ltd
Belmont Metals Inc.
Campine NV
China-Tin Group Co. Ltd.
Consolidated Murchison Mine
Dongguan Jiefu Flame Retardant Materials Co Ltd
Geodex Minerals Ltd.
GeoProMining Ltd
Hsikwangshan Twinkling Star Co Ltd
Huachang Antimony Industry
Hunan Chenzhou Mining Group Co Ltd
Hunan Gold Corp Ltd
Korea Zinc Co. Ltd.
Lambert Metals International Ltd
Lanxess AG
Mandalay Resources Corp.
Nihon Seiko Co Ltd.
NYACOL Nano Technologies, Inc.
Qingdao Long Glory International Trading Co Ltd
Recylex SA
Shanghal Metal Corp (SMC)
Suzhiro Chemical Co Ltd
Tri-Star Resources plc
Umicore NV
United States Antimony Corp
Village Main Reef Ltd
Yiyang City Huachang Antimony Industry Co Ltd
YoungSun Chemicals Corp.
Yunnan Muli Antimony Industry Co Ltd