Something to keep an eye on (text version). Not sure how much this would actually affect us, but bears watching, at any rate. Thankfully, we are a 'diversified' mining company ;)
Flame retardant industry could substitute antimony if prices rise to $11,000
March 04, 2014 - 15:35 GMT Location: London
KEYWORDS: antimony trioxide , antimony , flame retardants
If antimony prices climb close to $11,000 per tonne the flame retardant industry could substitute antimony trioxide, cutting demand for antimony metal by as much as 50%, according to Dirk Rimaux, commercial manager at Belgian producer Campine.
The flame retardant industry, which consumes almost 70% of the world's primary antimony production, started substituting antimony trioxide in 2011 after antimony prices soared to record highs above $17,000 per tonne, cutting demand for antimony by 35,000 tonnes per year. As prices fell during 2012 and 2013 the push to reformulate eased, but the flame retardant industry could look into starting this again if antimony prices remain volatile, Rimaux told Metal Bulletin. "If people are not careful and speculate the price up they will risk a new wave of reformulation, and then we might end up with just half the market there...
