China Jails Critical Mineral Smugglers for Up to 12 years
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A court in southern China sentenced a smuggling ringleader to 12 years in prison for illegally exporting antimony, as authorities step up a crackdown on evasion of state controls governing metals vital to the defense industry.
The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in Guangdong province handed down sentences to 26 others ranging from four months of detention to five years in prison, according to a statement released Tuesday. The group was convicted of smuggling more than 166 tons of antimony ingots, 96 tons of which were seized by customs officers. The court fined the primary defendant 1 million yuan ($142,000).
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- A Chinese court sentenced a smuggling ringleader to 12 years for illegally exporting antimony, with 26 accomplices also punished.
- After China’s August 2024 export controls, antimony prices surged in Europe to $61,000/ton (July 2025), while Chinese exports dropped 90% in early 2025.
- China, supplying 60% of global antimony, has intensified enforcement, pausing some US-targeted bans but maintaining strict controls.
- August 2024：
- Beijing restricted the export of antimony and superhard materials.
- Late 2024：
- Beijing escalated export control measures by banning shipments of 'dual-use items' containing gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S.
- Early 2025：
- A campaign was unveiled by Chinese government bodies to dismantle networks smuggling strategic minerals.
- First 10 months of 2025：
- China's exports of antimony ingots fell by 90% year-on-year to 327 tons.
- July 2025：
- The price of antimony at the European port of Rotterdam peaked near $61,000 per ton.
- October 2025：
- Trade consultations were held in Kuala Lumpur; following this, China announced a pause on the specific ban targeting the U.S.
- By November 9, 2025：
- China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a pause on the specific ban targeting the U.S. effective from Nov. 9, 2025, to late 2026.
- As of December 17, 2025：
- European antimony prices hovered around $36,000 per ton, compared to $23,000 in China.
- December 17, 2025：
- The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court sentenced a smuggling ring leader and 26 others for antimony smuggling.
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