Nyrstar: Scaling Australia’s Mine-to-Metal Capability

For more than a decade, three nations dominated the global antimony supply chain. China, Russia and Tajikistan collectively controlled more than 90% of worldwide production, creating a precarious dependency for Western industries reliant on this critical mineral, particularly those in defence and advanced technology.

That dependency evolved into an acute crisis in 2026. After China implemented a complete export ban on antimony to the United States in December 2025, prices surged to unprecedented levels, currently trading near US$50,000 per tonne.

Yet, this supply disruption created an opening for Australian mining operations. The nation swiftly transitioned from an emerging source to a central global supplier, reshaping the strategic landscape of critical minerals supply.

A major example of this transformation is Nyrstar's Port Pirie multi-metals facility in South Australia. The operation is currently scaling up to reach an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes, a volume that could represent approximately 15% of the global market.

Significantly, this production level could effectively substitute the entire volume of antimony that the United States previously sourced from China.

Nyrstar announced the first commercial grade antimony metal shipment from Port Pirie, signalling a pivotal moment for Australia's mine-to-metal sovereign capability.

While the initial batch has been allocated to an Australian domestic manufacturer on the East Coast, subsequent shipments attracted interest from customers across Europe, Asia and the United States.

Scaling sovereign processing capacity

The Port Pirie facility could demonstrate the importance of downstream processing infrastructure for mining nations. According to Darin Cooper, Nyrstar Port Pirie General Manager, the facility represents a critical shift in Australia's mining value chain.

"The first shipment of Antimony metal from Port Pirie demonstrates the importance of investing in nationally strategic smelters," Darin explains.

"Mining alone does not create supply chain security: it is the smelting, refining and conversion into critical metals that ensures Australia can play a strategic role for itself and its allies.

"Antimony metal is essential for modern societies, and global customers increasingly seek secure supply from trusted sources. Nyrstar at Port Pirie is responding to the challenge, demonstrating that mine-to-metals capability in Australia is possible, and with the support of government can be delivered at speed and scale."

The accelerated scaling of Nyrstar's production was facilitated by the construction of pilot and demonstration plants, supported by both the Australian and South Australian governments. This collaborative approach has enabled mining projects like Hillgrove, operated by Larvotto Resources, and Costerfield to be positioned as sovereign assets rather than purely commercial operations.

Strategic applications in defence

Antimony is often characterised as an overlooked critical mineral, yet it could represent a single point of failure for contemporary military systems. Its properties are essential across three key defence applications.

In munitions, it functions as the primary hardening agent for lead in bullets and armour-piercing rounds. Without it, conventional ammunition could lack the structural integrity necessary for high-velocity impact.

The metal also serves as a component in infrared sensors, night-vision goggles and laser-guided triggers. Additionally, antimony trioxide is used as a mandatory additive for fire-resistant coatings on naval vessels, aircraft and military uniforms.

In response to these strategic needs, the United States Defense Logistics Agency issued tenders in February 2026 to replenish the US National Defense Stockpile. Under the US-Australia Critical Minerals Framework, Australian antimony is being prioritised for these reserves.

In Australia, the federal government's US$1.2bn Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve aims to ensure that domestic defence contractors, such as Thales Australia, maintain priority access to domestically processed antimony.

Opportunities in energy storage

While antimony's military applications are significant, its function in the green energy transition could prove more transformative for mining operators. While lithium dominates discussions around electric vehicles, antimony is emerging as a key component in Long-Duration Energy Storage systems.

Next-generation liquid metal batteries, such as those being developed by Ambri, employ a calcium-antimony chemistry. These systems are cheaper than lithium-ion alternatives, carry no fire risk and offer a lifespan exceeding 20 years, making them suitable for stabilising national power grids.

Additionally, sodium antimonate is utilised as a clarifying agent in high-efficiency solar glass, positioning the mineral as a component in Western energy independence strategies.

Looking forward, Nyrstar is examining the potential to expand its processing portfolio to include bismuth and tellurium at Port Pirie, alongside germanium at its Hobart Zinc Works. As Western nations seek to protect themselves from further supply disruptions, Australia's evolution from a raw materials exporter to a producer of strategically processed metals could represent a new dimension of global economic security for the mining sector.