Love this from WSJ! Until recently, an obscure element often found in gold mines was considered detritus. Now, antimony is highly sought-after and at the center of the U.S.-China trade war. https://t.co/mPKUPhuo1r via @WSJ
Why the U.S. Government Depends on United States Antimony Corporation ( $UAMY):
• Antimony is a critical mineral used in ammunition, flame retardants, electronics, and armor alloys.
• Over 90% of the world’s antimony supply comes from China, which banned exports to the U.S. in 2024.
• USAC is the only domestic producer able to refine antimony metal to defense-grade purity (99.65%).
• The Defense Logistics Agency issued a sole-source contract to USAC to stockpile the metal.
• Legal basis: 10 U.S.C. §3204(a)(3)(A) & FAR 6.302-3 …allows limiting competition to maintain industrial mobilization.
• This move secures U.S. production capacity for critical materials in a national emergency.
• Despite government funding programs, no other U.S. producers have qualified in the past five years.
• In short: USAC isn’t just a supplier …it’s a strategic asset for national security and industrial resilience.