China to impose export restrictions on rare metal antimony-related items from September

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国 希少金属アンチモン関連品目 9月から輸出規制へ

2024年8月15日 22時14分

中国政府は、半導体の材料などとして使われる希少金属、アンチモンの関連品目について、9月から輸出を規制すると発表しました。半導体などの輸出規制を強めるアメリカなどをけん制するねらいもあるとみられます。

中国商務省と税関総署は15日に「輸出管理法」などに基づいて、希少金属のアンチモンの関連品目について、輸出規制を実施すると発表しました。

それによりますと、対象となる品目を輸出する企業に対して、最終的な利用者や用途を示すなどしたうえで、政府の審査を受けて許可を得ることを義務づけるとしています。

違反した場合には処罰するとしていて、9月15日から規制を実施するとしています。

アンチモンは半導体の材料や、製品を燃えにくくする難燃剤などに使われる希少金属で、中国が世界的に高いシェアを占めています。

今回の措置について中国政府は、国家の安全と利益を守るためだとしていて、半導体などの輸出規制を強めるアメリカなどをけん制するねらいもあるとみられます。

 中国政府は、

▽去年8月から、半導体の材料などに使われるガリウムとゲルマニウムの関連品目について輸出規制を実施しているほか

▽去年12月からは、リチウムイオン電池の材料として使われる黒鉛の関連品目でも輸出規制を始めています。

Translation

The Chinese government announced that it would impose export restrictions on items related to antimony, a rare metal used as a material for semiconductors, starting from September. It was believed that the aim was also to check the United States and other countries that were strengthening export restrictions on semiconductors and other products.

On the 15th, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs announced that they would impose export restrictions on items related to the rare metal antimony based on the "Export Control Law" and other laws.

According to the law, companies that exported the targeted items would be required to obtain permission after indicating the final user and used for what purpose, and to be reviewed by the government.

Violations could be punished, and the restrictions would be implemented starting from September 15th.

Antimony was a rare metal used in semiconductor materials and flame retardants that could make products less flammable, and China had a large share of the global market.

The Chinese government claimed that the measures this time aimed at protecting national security and interests, and were also thought to be aimed at deterring countries such as the United States, which were tightening export controls on semiconductors and other products.

 The Chinese government had

▽implemented export controls on items related to gallium and germanium, which could be used in semiconductor materials, since August last year,

▽and since December last year also began to impose export controls on items related to graphite, which could be used as a material in lithium-ion batteries.

              So, China announces that it will impose export restrictions on items related to antimony from September. It is believed that one intention is to check the United States and other countries that are strengthening export restrictions on semiconductors and other products. I am wondering how this restriction will affect the global market for antimony.

Note:

Antimony (銻) is a chemical element. Antimony compounds have been known since ancient times and were powdered for use as medicine and cosmetics, often known by the Arabic name kohl. China is the largest producer of antimony and its compounds. The largest use of metallic antimony is in alloys with lead and tin, and lead-antimony alloy is used in lead-acid batteries. Antimony is also needed in emerging microelectronics technologies. (Wikipedia)