Reuters: US continues to import Chinese strategic minerals to circumvent ban

Despite China's ban on the supply of strategic minerals to the United States, American companies continue to actively import antimony through Thailand and Mexico. This is stated in the Reuters investigation.

In December 2023, China imposed a ban on the export of three strategic minerals to the United States: antimony, gallium, and germanium. These elements are critical to the defense, telecommunications, and microchip industries.

However, as the agency found out, Chinese antimony still gets to the United States through Asian intermediaries.

For example, from December 2024 to April 2025, the United States imported 3,834 tons of antimony oxides from Thailand and Mexico, more than in almost three previous years combined.

At the same time, none of these countries has significant antimony deposits, and each has only one smelter. In Mexico, this plant resumed operations only in April.

An investigation has revealed that Thai Unipet, a subsidiary of Chinese manufacturer Youngsun Chemicals, is supplying antimony to the United States in large quantities.

According to data from customs platforms, it shipped at least 3,366 tons of products to the United States from December to May, which is 27 times more than in the same period a year earlier.

The recipient was Youngsun & Essen, a Texas-based company that had been receiving antimony directly from China before the ban.

According to the CEO of the American company Gallant Metals, gallium supplies from China continue through Asian intermediaries with labels for "iron," "zinc," or even "artistic goods".

Chinese authorities are aware of the transit trade and in May announced a campaign against smuggling of strategic minerals. Violations are punishable by fines, an export ban, or up to five years in prison.

• On July 8, it was reported that China threatened tariffs on the US and other countries that are pushing it out of supply chains.