Market Trends of Antimony Industry
The Flame Retardants Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market
- Antimony is a brittle, silvery-white semi-metal that conducts heat poorly. It is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite. Antimony compounds used as flame retardants are antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide, and antimony-metal compounds.
- Antimony trioxide is widely used in flame retardants. It reacts with halogenated compounds and creates the chemical compounds that generate the flame-retardant function.
- Antimony compounds, particularly antimony trioxide, are commonly used as flame retardants in various materials. Although antimony trioxide itself has no flame-retardant function, when used with halogenated compounds, the synergistic effect of the mixture creates flame-retardant properties.
- Also, antimony oxide promotes char formation (essentially carbon) on the substrate, reducing the formation of volatile gas. The barrier formation between the substrate and the vapor phase reduces the available oxygen to the underlying substrate, thereby preventing further combustion.
- The use of flame retardants has increased in recent years due to various factors, such as stringent building codes, increasing awareness about fire safety regulations, and the rise in industrial activities requiring flame-retardant materials.
- According to the European Chemicals Agency Report, antimony trioxide accounts for around 25% of the global flame-retardant market. However, some of the most used antimony compounds have been restricted during the recent decade owing to their persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic properties.
- However, in recent decades, flame retardants have been subject to regulation by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), multiple state agencies, and regulatory bodies in different countries globally. ECHA also identifies certain brominated flame retardants as candidates for EU-wide restriction. This has increased demand for eco-friendly flame retardants, such as phosphorus-based flame retardants.
- Some of the key players in the flame-retardant industry include Clariant AG, Lanxess, and BASF SE.
- Hence, owing to the factors mentioned above, the flame retardants application segment is anticipated to drive the market for antimony during the forecast period.
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Asia-Pacific is Expected to Dominate the Market
- Asia-Pacific is likely to dominate the market for antimony with the increasing demand for applications in flame retardants, batteries, ceramics and glass, and catalysts.
- As a flame retardant, antimony is used in plastics for electronic equipment, textiles for tents and protective clothing, paints and pigments, and synthetic fibers.
- China is among the largest producers of antimony. However, production has been declining in the last few years owing to older mines reaching the end of their life. Also, a national movement has been started in the country to mitigate pollution, which has caused plant closures. The country’s import of antimony has risen, and the supply of antimony also fluctuates.
- Antimony trioxide is also used as a flame retardant and pigment in paints and dyes. According to European Coatings, nearly 10,000 coating manufacturers are located in China. Most of the leading global coating manufacturers have their manufacturing bases in China. Paints and coatings companies have increasingly invested in the country to expand specialized coating production capacity. For instance, in September 2023, Hempel A/S announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang, China. The Zhangjiagang factory will gradually increase capacity to reach 100 million liters annually in 2025.
- In recent years, the demand for flame retardants in India has increased, driven by several factors, such as growth in the construction and electronics industries, increasing fire safety awareness, and stricter regulatory requirements. Additionally, one of the major drivers for the increased adoption of flame retardants in India includes the rising awareness of fire hazards and safety precautions.
- According to data published by Battery International, the growing number of electronic components in automotive, coupled with the ongoing shift toward electric vehicles, are driving the demand for lead-acid batteries.
- Additionally, the Government of Japan aims to attract over USD 24 billion in investment by 2030 to expand its battery manufacturing infrastructure, thus driving the demand for antimony in the country.
- Hence, the above-mentioned factors are expected to impact the antimony market in Asia-Pacific.
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