Price Escalation: Antimony Trioxide and Brominated Flame Retardants Hit Record Highs

Driven by tightening supply and surging demand, prices for antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃) and bromine-antimony flame retardants have skyrocketed in recent months. As of April 2025, Chinese antimony prices reached 230,000 yuan ($31,509) per ton, marking a 65% year-over-year increase. Antimony trioxide, a critical component in flame retardants, has seen its price surge by over 200% since 2022, rising from 70,000 yuan/ton to 230,000 yuan/ton. Major chemical producers, including LG Chem and BASF, have raised prices for flame-retardant ABS and PBT plastics by 3,000–7,000 yuan/ton, reflecting the strain on downstream industries.

Key Drivers of the Price Surge

1. Supply Chain Disruptions and Export Controls

China, responsible for 48% of global antimony production, imposed stringent export controls on antimony ore and high-purity oxides in September 2024, slashing Q1 2025 exports by 57% year-over-year. Geopolitical tensions, including delayed or rejected export licenses for U.S.-bound shipments, have exacerbated shortages. Concurrently, Russia and Australia face operational challenges, further straining supply.

2. Surging Demand from Emerging Technologies

Antimony’s applications in photovoltaic glass clarifiers, liquid metal batteries, and semiconductor doping have intensified competition for limited supplies. The solar sector alone is projected to increase antimony consumption by 25% in 2025.

3. Environmental and Trade Policy Pressures

Stricter environmental regulations on mining and processing have raised production costs globally. Additionally, U.S.-China trade tensions, including a 34% tariff on Chinese imports and retaliatory measures, have reshaped cost structures for engineering plastics like ABS and PC.

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Industry Chain Impacts: Challenges and Adaptations

- Profit Squeeze for Downstream Manufacturers: Modified plastic producers report operating losses, with some accepting orders at a loss to retain clients.

- Shift to Alternative Materials: PC/ABS alloys, offering 10% cost savings over traditional flame-retardant ABS, are gaining traction. LG Chem’s PFAS-free flame-retardant PC/ABS, certified by UL with a 46% carbon reduction, exemplifies this trend.

- Recycling and Bio-Based Innovations: Companies are accelerating R&D in phosphorus-based flame retardants (e.g., BDP), recycled plastics (priced as low as 6,800 yuan/ton), and bio-based materials like PLA/ABS blends to mitigate antimony dependency.

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Conclusion: Balancing Crisis and Innovation

Short-term strategies like inventory optimization and process upgrades remain critical, but long-term resilience hinges on halogen-free flame retardant technologies, diversified supply chains (e.g., Southeast Asian production hubs), and circular economy models. This price volatility underscores the urgency for sustainable innovation, positioning green alternatives as the cornerstone of future industrial growth.