On June 23, SMM reported that customs data showed China's imports of other antimony ores and concentrates reached 2,322.35 mt in May 2025, a significant 45.2% MoM decline from the 4,238.98 mt imported in April. Market participants indicated that the substantial reduction in imported antimony ore was reasonable given the recent pullback in antimony market prices. This has led to a prolonged shortage of imported antimony raw materials, coupled with domestic mines holding back sales, resulting in most large antimony producers in China currently operating with relatively low raw material inventory levels. This situation has also caused numerous manufacturers in the market to halt production and implement production cuts.