On August 25, SMM reported that according to market rumors, a safety incident occurred at an antimony mine in Hunan yesterday. The cause of the accident was allegedly a roof fall, resulting in casualties. Currently, the mine is in a state of shutdown. Market sources indicate that this mine produces around 6,000 mt of antimony concentrate annually, and this is the fifth incident since 2022, with previous shutdowns typically lasting from half a month to two months. For detailed information, the company's official statement should be referred to. However, the current shutdown may lead to a short-term shortage of ore for some smelters that purchase from this mine, potentially impacting their production.
Moreover, since June, a large number of antimony smelters have ceased operations, including many major domestic producers. According to SMM's tracking of over 30 antimony smelters nationwide, more than half are currently shut down. Market sources suggest that due to the high cost and difficulty in obtaining ore, along with various reasons for domestic mine shutdowns, it is likely that future antimony production will decrease further.
