Summary of antimony industry in 2014 and outlook for 2015
The global antimony industry witnessed slow movement with weak downstream demand in 2014, against a background of global economic decline. Suppliers of antimony products faced fierce competition. Are there any favorable signs suggesting the market will pick up in 2015?
In recent years, China’s import volume for antimony concentrate has been on the increase. In 2014, the volume came near to 60 million tons. More and more producers reach over traders and purchase or invest directly in foreign countries, however, opportunities and risk coexist, how might they improve the quality of their overseas purchase and investments?
In 2014, the Ministry of Land and Resources decided it would no longer issue an index for the total amount of antimony ore mining. Subsequent antimony ore mining has been decided by the following factors: industrial development; downstream applications; market supply; and demand factors. With a declining supply of raw material in China, many producers are turning to overseas suppliers, but this exposes them to greater risk, whether from overseas purchases or investment in mines. How might they seek opportunities and reduce risk?
When addressing the problems around excess production capacity, outdated equipment, dwindling profits and smelters suspending production, how might antimony enterprises form an industry alliance and capitalize on their shared advantages, improving the quality and efficiency of developments within the industry?
In recent years, China has implemented a series of measures, such as antimony industry access conditions, and overall controls on the amount of antimony ore mining. Antimony smelters and mining enterprises have experienced suspensions, mergers and reorganizations which resulted in greater industrial consolidation and control over production, but the excess capacity problems still persist. Is there any hope to lessen the dependency on Chinese supply?
What is the current demand and outlook for antimony oxide in Europe, North America, Japan and South Korea? What opportunities for the antimony industry might developments in new energy and materials bring?
Flame retardants are the foremost field of application within the downstream antimony industries, but due to the incomplete laws and regulations, and product standards, market demand and applications are gradually shrinking. How might one go about providing stronger support for sustainable development within the antimony industry by establishing relevant laws and regulations, improving flame retardant consciousness in all walks of life and expanding the market applications?
Current situation and future development trends for comprehensive recovery and utilization of resources in antimony industry
In 2014, the Ministry of Environmental Production published Standards on Stannum, Antimony , Mercury Industrial Pollutants Discharge. The standards govern water and air pollutant discharge limits, monitoring and control requirements for selecting and smelting antimony within industrial enterprises, as well as emission limits on water and air pollutants in key areas. Newly founded enterprises have been adhering to the policy since July 1, 2014, and existing enterprises since January 1, 2015. The selection and smelting of antimony metal very much belong within the heavy metal industry. With interest in ecological issues growing day by day, environmental standards are becoming ever more stringent, which increases antimony enterprises’ production costs. In light of the strict environmental standards and overcapacity, exactly what is the current situation and what of the market prospects for development resource recovery and utilization within the antimony industry?
Opportunities and challenges for the antimony industry in other countries and regions beyond China
More and more antimony ore mining areas have been explored in other countries, like Iran, Turkey, India, with a succession of smelters being established, which has increased the supply of antimony related products. In addition, Chinese antimony ingot smuggling has pushed down antimony oxide production costs in other countries, resulting in a decline in the international competitiveness of China's antimony oxide products. What are the current prospects like for antimony producers outside of China?
