Survey of the World Antimony Situation in 1949

This note condenses the CIA’s Survey of the World Antimony Situation (1948 – 1949), focusing on the geography of production, reserves, and trade, as well as the United States’ consumption patterns and emergency‑stock considerations. The material is organized to help you grasp the main supply‑side dynamics, price behavior, and strategic options for antimony in a compact, exam‑friendly format.

World Antimony Production 1939‑1948

The report tabulates recoverable antimony (92 % of ore content) in metric tons for each country.

Production peaked in 1943 (≈ 53 200 t) during WWII and fell sharply after the war.

Country / Region	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947	1949
North America
Canada	550	1 083	1 329	1 269	465	809	696	286	480	124
Honduras	–	–	23	103	110	65	11	8	–	5
Mexico	7 243	11 286	10 241	10 759	12 585	10 056	8 053	6 046	6 371	6 790
United States	328	412	1 013	2 457	4 636	3 952	1 611	2 091	4 437	5 416
South America
Argentina	97	91	123	41	100	71	13	–	–	–
Bolivia (exports)	9 255	10 813	13 680	16 231	16 536	6 852	5 093	6 407	9 989	11 280
Peru	775	809	1 440	1 457	2 472	932	2 041	969	1 140	1 770
Europe
Czechoslovakia	1 012	1 104	1 645	3 130	–	–	1 115	2 156	1 434	1 593
France	–	–	–	128	153	116	153	202	200	–
Austria	102	184	26	391	571	658	132	15	82	247
Italy	674	630	819	667	522	403	348	330	450	130
… (other European producers omitted for brevity)
Asia
China	12 017	8 469	7 989	3 510	505	203	–	426	1 909	3 251
Japan	125	180	250	350	600	450	210	49	100	124
… (other Asian producers omitted)

Key take‑aways

• China supplied two‑thirds of world output before 1937; war crippled its industry.
• Bolivia and Mexico became the principal suppliers after 1937, with Bolivia briefly leading (1941‑44).
• U.S. production was modest (≈ 5 000 t in 1943) but grew to ≈ 5 400 t in 1948, covering ~ 30 % of its consumption.

Estimated World Reserves in 1944

Reserve estimates are highly uncertain; only China and the United States have government‑backed figures. The table below captures the order‑of‑magnitude picture for the principal producers.

Country	Metric tons of antimony metal (estimated)
China	3 802 870
Bolivia	700 000
Mexico	700 000
United States	103 500
Peru	70 000
Yugoslavia	100 000
Czechoslovakia	50 000
Union of South Africa	80 000
Australia	60 000
USSR	150 000

Insight – Because antimony occurs in small, irregular bodies, most deposits are hand‑mined; expanding reserves would require capital‑intensive “block‑out” development that is often uneconomic.

Smelting Industry

• Pre‑1944: China possessed the world’s largest smelting capacity; Japanese capture of Changsha in 1944 destroyed most plants.
• Post‑war: The United States now has the largest smelting capacity for antimony metal and oxide. Smaller capacities (≈ 1 t day⁻¹) exist in the UK, Belgium, France, Yugoslavia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, and the USSR.
• Typical plant size: Many foreign smelters handle only a ton or so per day with makeshift equipment.
• U.S. capability: Sufficient to meet domestic demand provided ore is available.

Technology & Processing in Antimony

1. Ore characteristics – Antimony occurs in low‑temperature, shallow, narrow fissure fillings. Grades range 3–12 % Sb; Chinese and Bolivian ores can exceed this.
2. Beneficiation – Hand‑sorting, jigs, and gravity concentration are common; losses are high.
3. Roasting vs. Liquation –
   • Roasting converts sulfides to volatile oxides for condensation.
   • Liquation (melting) separates a high‑Sb sulfide matte (“crude”) from gangue when ore > 50 % sulfide.
4. Smelting routes –
   • Oxide smelting (blast, reverberatory, crucible) produces regulus (99 %+ Sb).
   • Crude sulfide smelting with scrap iron yields metal + FeS residue.
   • Lee Muir process refines antimonial lead from Idaho lead ores.
5. Product forms – Standard ingots (≈ 56 lb) are cast in 10×10×2½ in. dimensions; “starred” ingots claim higher purity (≥ 99.6 % Sb).

Antimony Primary Uses

• Lead alloying (4–12 % Sb) – Provides hardness for bullet cores, shrapnel, storage‑battery plates, pipe, and cable covering.
• Type metal – Antimony expands on cooling, giving sharp, clear type.
• Other alloys – Solder, pewter, Britannia metal, sterline, and Queen’s metal.
• Compounds –
  • Oxides for fire‑retardant paints, enamel pigments, and water‑resistant coatings.
  • Sulfides for vulcanization pigments, safety‑match heads (≈ 3 % Sb₂S₃), and lead‑acid battery plate liners.

Alternative to Antimony ( as an Emergency Options)

Substitute	Typical application	Comments
Calcium	Hard‑lead alloys (cable, bearings, bullets)	Much cheaper but less effective; limited availability in war.
Bismuth	Partial replacement in battery plates	Scarce; similar price to antimony.
Cadmium	Bearing metals	Replaces antimony but is toxic; not a long‑term solution.
Tin oxide / Cadmium pigments	Ceramic and enamel pigments	Higher cost; may be in short supply.
Other metal oxides (e.g., titanium compounds)	Pigments	Niche use; not a full substitute.

Bottom line – Substitutes are more expensive and often scarcer than antimony, limiting their usefulness in a prolonged emergency.

United States Position between 1946‑1948

• Domestic production – Primarily from the Yellow Pine mine (Idaho). Output rose from 14 % of U.S. consumption (1946) to 42 % (1948).
• Imports – Shifted from regulus (pre‑Laredo smelter) to ore concentrates after the Laredo plant (1930) came online. 1943 peak: 27 021 t of antimony‑containing ore (≈ 2 / 3 of world primary production). Main sources: Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, with occasional shipments from China (pre‑war).
• Tariffs – Ores duty‑free; metal and oxide taxed at 1 ¢/lb, needle antimony at 0.25 ¢/lb, sulphides at 0.5 ¢/lb + 12.5 % ad valorem. Rates unchanged since 1930 (except metal/oxide duty reduced from 2 ¢/lb in 1948).
• Prices – Highly volatile; New York spot price rose from 12 c/lb (1939) to a wartime high of 44.71 c/lb (1917), fell to 4.32 c/lb (1921‑22), then climbed to 40.17 c/lb (Dec 1948).

Consumption Snapshot (primary antimony, metric t)

Year	Primary consumption	Secondary (scrap)	Total US consumption
1943	17 697	14 046	31 743
1946	15 102	17 341	35 953
1948	14 020	19 788	33 808

Future Outlook & Emergency Planning

• Supply‑demand balance (1947‑48) – Near‑equilibrium, but stockpiles (excluding strategic reserves) fell from 16 664 t (end‑1946) to 14 481 t (Dec 1948).
• Projected 1949 supply – ≈ 41 000 t (similar to 1948). Anticipated sources: domestic ore, Mexican and Bolivian concentrates, limited Chinese shipments.
• Emergency requirement – An annual shortfall of ≈ 22 500 t would need to be covered by foreign ore; the report estimates:
  • Mexico: 8‑10 000 t
  • Bolivia: 10‑12 000 t (potentially 16 000 t within three years)
  • Peru: 1 000 t (up to 3 500 t if needed)

Stockpile Recommendations

1. Maintain at least a one‑year primary antimony reserve (≈ 27 000 t) to buffer labor or transport disruptions.
2. Secure purchase contracts for the entire output of Mexico and Bolivia in emergencies; relax specification (e.g., accept < 60 % Sb) to boost output.
3. Provide advance payments or loan incentives to small‑scale miners (especially in Bolivia and Mexico) to raise production quickly.

Key Statistics (Quick Reference)

• World peak production (1943): 53 200 t (recoverable).
• Largest reserves: China ≈ 3.8 million t; Bolivia ≈ 0.7 million t; Mexico ≈ 0.7 million t.
• U.S. 1948 primary consumption: 14 020 t; secondary recovery: 19 788 t.
• U.S. import tariff (metal): 1 ¢/lb; oxide: 1 ¢/lb; needle: 0.25 ¢/lb.
• Typical antimony alloy composition: 4‑12 % Sb in lead for batteries, cable, and ammunition.

All numbers are drawn from the CIA “World Antimony Situation” report (Document No. 001, 1948).