Surge in Antimony Oxide Prices: Impact on Enamel Manufacturers and Response Countermeasures

In September 2024, China implemented export controls on high-purity antimony oxide, leading to a spike in overseas antimony prices and an expansion of the price gap between domestic and international markets. On one hand, the supply of overseas antimony ore to China has decreased; on the other hand, domestic antimony raw material prices have risen alongside market prices.

Globally, antimony ore production shows an overall declining trend. As the largest antimony producer, China's output has continued to decline since reaching its peak in 2014. In February 2025, China's antimony ingot production decreased by 7.84% month-on-month. Additionally, due to weather conditions, northern mining sources have suspended operations in winter, tightening the domestic raw material supply.

The sharp rise in antimony oxide prices has had a significant impact on the enamel industry. Prices of enamel frits and pigments containing antimony oxide, such as antimony white frit, antimony tin gray pigment, and white pigment, are affected. Enamel manufacturers are facing cost pressures and are advised to take measures to respond actively:

1. Reasonably control raw material inventory levels. This avoids capital being tied up due to excessive inventory while providing a buffer during raw material price increases, ensuring normal production.

2. Improve production efficiency. By adopting advanced production technologies and processes, optimizing production flows, and reducing waste and loss of raw materials, manufacturers can decrease raw material consumption and lower production costs.

3. Seek alternative materials or improve product design. The R&D department should invest more in finding alternative materials that can replace antimony oxide frits or improving product designs to reduce dependency on antimony oxide raw materials. However, it is essential to ensure that the performance and quality of alternative materials meet product requirements.

4.Appropriately increase product prices to transfer some cost pressure. At the same time, it is important to monitor market competition to avoid losing market share due to price increases.