Antimony's Strategic Role in Clean Energy and Advanced Manufacturing: North America's Supply-Side Renaissance

In the race to decarbonize economies and secure critical supply chains, antimony-a metal often overlooked in favor of lithium or cobalt-is emerging as a linchpin for North America's clean energy and advanced manufacturing ambitions. By 2025, the continent's antimony supply chain has undergone a strategic transformation, driven by geopolitical imperatives, technological innovation, and a growing recognition of the mineral's indispensable role in energy storage, defense, and industrial applications. For investors, this confluence of factors presents a compelling case for capitalizing on North America's antimony renaissance.

A Supply Chain Reboot: From Dependency to Resilience

North America's antimony supply chain has long been vulnerable to global disruptions, with over 85% of U.S. imports historically sourced from China, which controls 90% of global antimony production, according to a MarketMinute report. However, 2025 marks a turning point. The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency's $245 million contract with United States Antimony Corporation (USAC) to stockpile antimony metal bars in the National Defense Stockpile has catalyzed a domestic production surge, per MetalTech News. USAC, the operator of North America's only two antimony smelters, is expanding its processing capacity in Montana by 400% while leveraging high-grade antimony from Alaska's Mohawk Antimony project, according to MarketChameleon. This dual strategy of reactivating legacy resources and scaling processing infrastructure is not just a response to supply risks-it's a blueprint for strategic self-sufficiency.

Locksley Resources and Rice University's collaboration on green hydrometallurgical extraction further underscores the region's innovation. By developing the U.S.'s first domestic antimony processing capabilities, they aim to reduce environmental footprints while securing a critical input for energy storage technologies, according to Perpetua Resources. Meanwhile, Perpetua Resources' Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho, projected to yield 148 million pounds of antimony over six years, is poised to meet 15–20% of U.S. annual demand, as noted in a Nasdaq press release. These projects collectively signal a shift from passive import reliance to active supply-side engineering.

Antimony in the Energy Transition: Beyond the Obvious

While antimony's traditional use in lead-acid batteries (which account for 75% of U.S. demand, per a Farmonaut overview) is well established, its role in next-generation energy systems is gaining traction. Liquid metal batteries, a key technology for long-duration grid storage, rely on antimony alloys to stabilize their electrolytes. Ambri, a pioneer in this space, is already integrating antimony into its commercial designs, with Perpetua's Idaho reserves serving as a critical feedstock. Similarly, antimony's function as a glass clarifier in photovoltaic panels ensures its relevance in the solar sector, where demand is projected to grow alongside renewable energy adoption.

The U.S. Department of Energy's $1 billion investment in critical mineral supply chains, including antimony, further validates these applications. For investors, this represents a dual tailwind: antimony's immediate utility in existing infrastructure and its foundational role in the energy transition.

Market Dynamics and Investment Potential

The North American antimony market is forecasted to grow at a 5.1% CAGR from 2024 to 2030, reaching $587.2 million in revenue, as outlined in that Nasdaq release. This growth is underpinned by three key drivers:
1. Defense Demand: The U.S. military's use of antimony in ammunition, flame-retardant materials, and vehicle alloys ensures a stable base demand, a trend highlighted by MetalTech News.
2. Regulatory Tailwinds: OSHA-mandated flame-retardant clothing and infrastructure backup systems are boosting industrial consumption, according to the Nasdaq coverage.
3. Geopolitical Diversification: China's export restrictions and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act's emphasis on domestic critical minerals are accelerating North American production, as detailed in the MarketMinute report.

Financially, companies like USAC are navigating a challenging landscape. Despite a Q1 2025 revenue of $7 million (up 1.9% from the prior quarter), the company reported a net loss of 3.42% for the June 2025 quarter, per MarketChameleon's reporting. However, its $245 million defense contract and planned capacity expansions suggest a path to profitability. Perpetua Resources, meanwhile, benefits from its low-cost, high-grade Idaho project, which aligns with both energy transition goals and national security priorities, as described in the Nasdaq release.

Conclusion: A Strategic Metal for a Strategic Moment

Antimony's resurgence in North America is not merely a commodity play-it's a strategic imperative. As the continent races to decarbonize while safeguarding supply chains, antimony's unique properties position it as a cornerstone for both clean energy and national defense. For investors, the opportunities lie in companies that bridge the gap between legacy resources and cutting-edge applications, such as USAC's scaled processing, Perpetua's Idaho reserves, and Locksley's green innovation. With global antimony prices rising amid supply constraints and geopolitical tensions, the time to act is now.