Hidden Heavyweight: Why Antimony Is About to Blow Up—And How You Can Profit

The stealth metal fueling defense, energy, and tech—U.S. scramble for supply, market pressure, and three stocks ready to pop.

Sep 10, 2025

The Quiet Metal No One Saw Coming

Antimony isn’t lithium. It isn’t gold. And you probably haven’t seen it trending on CNBC. But here’s the truth: this stealth metal is one of the most critical resources shaping defense, technology, and energy independence—and it’s about to step into the spotlight.

The wake-up call came when China flexed its geopolitical muscle, cutting off antimony exports to the U.S. in 2024. Overnight, prices spiked nearly 40%, topping $22,000 per ton. Supply chains cracked. Semiconductor producers scrambled. Defense contractors sounded alarms. The U.S. realized it had zero secure domestic supply.

And that’s the opportunity: three companies are perfectly positioned to ride this shift. One is backed by the Pentagon. One controls the only integrated supply chain outside China. And one just secured Canada’s largest undeveloped antimony-gold system.

Let’s dive in.

Why Antimony Matters

Antimony is the metal you don’t think about but already rely on:

Flame retardants (48% of global use): embedded in textiles, plastics, and construction materials.
Lead-acid batteries (33%): still powering cars, industrial equipment, and backup systems.
Defense & military tech: infrared sensors, flares, armor piercing rounds, night-vision optics, even nuclear weapons.
Semiconductors: key compound (InSb) used in advanced chips and infrared detectors.
Next-gen batteries: liquid-metal storage systems could make antimony a star in grid storage.

Global demand is forecast to grow ~6% CAGR through 2030, fueled by semiconductors, defense, and clean energy. But here’s the kicker: China and Russia control over 80% of global supply. That chokehold has the West in scramble mode. The U.S. and EU are pumping billions into incentives for domestic and allied production.

Stock Spotlight: The Three Antimony Leaders

1. Perpetua Resources (NASDAQ: PPTA)

Perpetua is the cornerstone of America’s antimony strategy. Its Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho isn’t just about gold—it’s the only federally permitted project that can deliver a secure, domestic antimony supply.

Government backing: The Pentagon has already funded Perpetua with more than $80M for pilot testing and development.
Final permit approved: In January 2025, after eight years, the Biden administration granted its final federal permit.
Funding runway: Raised $425M equity financing in June 2025 and has an EXIM Bank letter of interest for up to $1.8B in debt financing.
Production profile: Projected to meet 35% of U.S. antimony demand once operational, alongside 450,000 oz of gold annually.

Risks: Tribal opposition (Nez Perce salmon impact), heavy capex needs, and execution risk.

Play: Buy for long-term positioning. Expect volatility, but this is the flagship U.S. antimony play.

2. United States Antimony (NYSE: UAMY)

UAMY is the only vertically integrated antimony producer in North America—controlling mining, refining, and smelting. That makes it uniquely positioned to scale quickly as domestic demand surges.

Montana smelter expansion: Boosting refining capacity by 6× in 2025.
Revenue growth: Q1 2025 revenues jumped 128% YoY; six-month growth up 160%.
New assets: Expanding into Alaska and Mexico, plus acquisition of tungsten-antimony claims in Ontario.
Strategic contracts: Signed a long-term supply deal with a U.S. defense contractor in late 2024.

Risks: Small cap, scale constraints, and operational hiccups.

Play: Speculative Buy / Hold. Best suited for mid-term traders who can handle volatility.

3. Critical One Energy (CSE: CRTL / OTC: MMTLF)

Critical One is the new face of antimony in North America. Its flagship Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project in Newfoundland is now the largest undeveloped antimony deposit in Canada—and one of the few outside of China.

Massive land expansion: In 2024, Critical One increased the project footprint by 67%, covering numerous new antimony and gold targets.
High-grade discovery: Recent assays confirmed high-grade antimony zones, validating geological potential.
Dual upside: Gold + antimony combo offers both a precious metals hedge and critical mineral leverage.
Early stage: Still in exploration and permitting, but strategically aligned with Canada’s push for domestic critical mineral supply.

Risks: Permitting hurdles, early-stage development, and funding requirements.

Play: Watch / High-Risk Speculate. For small speculative capital only, but huge optionality if development advances.

Macro Forces Driving the Sector

Geopolitics: China and Russia dominate supply. Any export control sends shockwaves through pricing.
Defense demand: The Pentagon has directly called antimony “essential for national security.”
Policy push: The U.S. Defense Production Act, EXIM Bank financing, and EU’s $3B Critical Raw Materials Fund are funneling cash into non-Chinese supply.
Tech growth: Semiconductors, flame retardants, and energy storage are all structural growth markets.

This isn’t a short-term squeeze. It’s a structural reset of supply chains.

Playbook: How to Play It

Perpetua (PPTA)
Buy. Long-term U.S. supply anchor.
Funded, permitted, but years from production.
Core allocation for patient investors.
United States Antimony (UAMY)
Speculative Buy / Hold.
Integrated, revenue-growing, near-term leverage.
Best for mid-term traders looking for momentum.
Critical One Energy (CRTL / MMTLF)
Watch / High-Risk Speculate.
Early-stage, but controls Canada’s largest undeveloped antimony system.
Small allocation only—lottery ticket upside.

Final Thoughts: The Hidden Metal With Heavyweight Potential

Antimony isn’t just another critical mineral—it’s a national security asset, a defense enabler, and an energy transition wildcard. For years, it flew under the radar. Now it’s front-page news in Washington, Brussels, and Beijing.

We’ve seen this movie before. Uranium. Rare earths. Lithium. A forgotten commodity suddenly becomes strategic, governments pour in billions, and early investors who positioned quietly walk away with outsized gains. Antimony is now entering that same cycle.

The U.S. has already planted its flag with Perpetua. Canada is rallying around Critical One. And UAMY is scaling operations to meet immediate demand. This three-pronged setup gives investors a spectrum of plays—from strategic cornerstone, to revenue-driven mid-cap, to early-stage optionality.

The bottom line? This is no longer an obscure byline on a government list. Antimony is about to become a front-page story in global supply chains. If you wait until CNBC is covering it, you’re already late.

Position yourself now. The wave is coming.

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes and should not be taken as financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.