Global Antimony Market Definition
Antimony is an element with the atomic number 51 and the symbol Sb. It is semi-metallic, hard, and brittle. It is lustrous grey or silver colored and occurs in nature as sulfide mineral stibnite. Antimony is used to make semiconductor devices including infrared detectors and diodes and hence its usage in the electrical industry. It is also alloyed with other metals, such as lead and tin, to improve their strength and hardness. Additionally, catalysts, cable sheathing, and bearings are made with antimony. It is used with copper to enhance the mechanical and electrical qualities of the cable wrapping. It is also used as a stimulant to speed up chemical reactions. In the process of making glass, particularly lead crystal glass, antimony is utilized as a decolorizing and purifying agent. The glass's clarity is increased and contaminants are removed. It is added to halogen-containing flame retardants too.
The demand for antimony is driven by end-use industries including flame-retardants and lead-acid batteries. Due to increased worries about fire safety in a number of industries, the usage of antimony in flame-retardants is anticipated to rise. In addition, it is anticipated that the development of alternative energy sources and the electrification of transportation would increase demand for antimony in the manufacture of lead-acid batteries.
Global Antimony Market: Key Insights
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Base Year |
2022 |
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Forecast Year |
2023-2035 |
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CAGR |
~7% |
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Base Year Market Size (2022) |
~ USD 1 Billion |
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Forecast Year Market Size (2035) |
~ USD 2.2 Billion |
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Regional Scope |
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Global Antimony Market Size, Forecast, and Trend Highlights Over 2023 - 2035
The global antimony market is estimated to garner a revenue of ~USD 2.2 Billion by the end of 2035 by growing at a CAGR of ~7% over the forecast period, i.e., 2023 – 2035. Further, the market generated a revenue of ~USD 1 Billion in the year 2022. Higher utilization of antimony in battery manufacturing is anticipated to be one of the major growth drivers of the market. For instance, the global demand for batteries was estimated to be approximately 180 GWh in 2020 and is further anticipated to reach more than 1,900 GWh by 2030. Besides, the growth of the market is accounted to the constantly growing electronic industry and the growing awareness of fire safety. Data provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) demonstrated that in 2020, there had been about 1,388,500 fire incidents in the United States.
The global antimony market is estimated to witness remarkable growth on the back of the up-surged requirement for antimony in fire safety. Although antimony has no flame-retardant properties, when it is utilized with halogenated compounds, it creates flame-retardant properties owing to the synergistic effect. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation released a set of data showing that more than 120,000 deaths were caused due to heat-related incidents in 2017 across the globe. Also, the increasing electrical arcs and the associated hazards, increasing use of plastic additives, and rising investment to reduce fire accidents. Hence, all such demands and requirements for antimony are projected to propel the growth of the market over the forecast period.
Global Antimony Market: Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
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Rising Utilization in Flame Retardant Materials with Growing Accident and Death Cases[SD1] - As of 2020, the flame retardants industry was valued at approximately USD 7 billion which is further forecasted to reach around USD 15 billion in 2030[SD2] . Antimony is mainly used in flame retardation in the form of trioxide. Antimony trioxide is used in various products by physical blending or chemical insertion such as in textiles. Antimony is combined with halogens in the preparation of flame retards as lead can suppress flames when coming in contact with any type of halogen. The government regulations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to maintain emergency flame retards to rise the demand for the market.
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Significant Utilization of Antimony in Glass & Ceramic to Boost Market Growth- Yellow, orange, and red pigments are made using antimony compounds and used in ceramics for decoration and to enhance the properties of the materials. The value of glass-ceramic was estimated to be around USD 1 billion in 2021 which is further expected to reach approximately USD 1.5 billion by the year 2026.[SD3]
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Rising Demand for antimony in Cable Sheathing Owing to Rising Internet Needs- Cable sheathing is generally associated with fiber cable technology which is highly utilized to circulate internet services. The World Bank released a set of data showing that in 2020, 60% of the global population was using the internet.
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Higher Requirements in Paint and Coating with Increasing Commercial Buildings[SD4] - Flame retardant antimony trioxide is frequently used in paint and coatings to increase their fire resistance. The consumption of antimony-based paints and surface coating is anticipated to rise with the expansion of the construction sector and the rising need for fire-safe structures. The worth of the paint & coating industry is projected to reach more than USD 195 billion by the year 2018.[SD5]
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Escalating Antimony Utilization in Battery Production- Antimony is combined with lead to create lead-acid battery packs, which are frequently used in cars and back - up power systems. The rising need for electric cars and renewable energy sources is predicted to increase the consumption of lead-acid batteries, which would, in turn, boost the market for antimony The Li-ion battery recycling industry is anticipated to reach around USD 10 billion by the year 2027.[SD6]
Challenges
- Increasing availability of alternatives to substitute antimony - Antimony can be easily substituted in some places by using other metals such as a mixture of chromium, zinc, tin, titanium, and zirconium. Further, antimony can be used in flame retardation by compounds such as alumina trihydrate, zinc borate, and magnesium hydroxide. Cardium, germanium, calcium, lead, zinc, tin, and barium are used to replace antimony in plastic manufacturing which slows the market growth.
- Tension Among Nations Regarding Convenient Antimony Supply
- Lack of Requisite Technology to Harness the Material
Global Antimony Market Segmentation
The global antimony market is segmented and analyzed for demand and supply by type into alloys and trioxides, out of which, the trioxides segment is anticipated to hold a notable share in the global antimony market during the forecast period on account of its higher utilization in pigments, rising production of ceramics, increasing fire accidents as antimony trioxide is flame-resistant agents and rising use in staining of copper and iron. Antimony trioxides are also utilized in the decolorizing of glass. For instance, the revenue of the dyes and pigments industry is projected to reach about USD 1100 million by the year 2015.[SD7]
The global antimony market is also segmented and analyzed for demand and supply by the end-user industry into automotive, chemical, electronics, and others. Out of these segments, the chemical industry segment is anticipated to garner the highest market share. This can be owed to the use of antimony to create lead-acid batteries and flame retardants, apart from alloys. The use of lead-acid batteries is bound to increase as electric vehicles (EVs) become more widespread. For instance, it is estimated that there are more than 18 million EVs on the road, globally.
Our in-depth analysis of the global antimony market includes the following segments:
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By Type |
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By Application |
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By End-User Industry |
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Global Antimony Market Regional Synopsis
The Asia Pacific region antimony market, amongst the market in all the other regions, is projected to hold the largest market share by the end of 2035. The growth of the market is ascribed to the developing electronic and automotive industries in the region. For instance, the electronic industry in the Asia Pacific region amounted to about USD 250 billion in 2020. Additionally, higher demand for antimony in the automotive industry is further anticipated to propel the growth of the market over the forecast period. For Instance, revenue generated by motor vehicles and other parts dealers in the U.S. was estimated to be around USD 1 million in 2021. Furthermore, the total sale of light vehicles in the U.S. was estimated to be around 13 million units in 2021. Additionally, with the increasing government and public sector initiatives, alternate uses of antimony, and an upsurge of fire safety regulations in all commercial and private spaces is estimated to grow rapidly in the region during the forecast period.
Additionally, the market in the European region is also projected to grow rapidly over the forecast period. The EU has been a significant global producer of oxide ever since the preceding decade. The production of oxide in the EU is dependent on imported refined copper elements. Lead acid batteries from Europe are anticipated to boost the market demand.
Top Featured Companies Dominating the Global Antimony Market
- AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.
- Company Overview
- Business Strategy
- Key Product Offerings
- Financial Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Risk Analysis
- Recent Development
- Regional Presence
- SWOT Analysis
- GeoProMining Limited
- Nihon Seiko Co., Ltd.
- Mandalay Resources Ltd.
- Belmont Metals Inc.
- United States Antimony Corporation
- Hunan Gold Corporation Limited
- DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
- Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A.
- Umicore N.V.
