Pakistan is emerging as a key player in the global race for critical minerals, attracting rising US interest in antimony exports. American defence-linked companies are exploring Pakistani supplies to diversify away from China. The Financial Times reported that Pakistan holds just 1% of global antimony reserves but is gaining strategic attention.
Himalayan Earth Exploration, a Pakistani mining firm, said US buyers are now approaching it for antimony, previously sold mainly to Chinese intermediaries. Antimony trioxide prices have surged to around $40,000 per tonne due to fears over China’s control of global supply chains. The mineral is vital for missiles, batteries, and flame retardants.
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Last month, Himalayan Earth Exploration signed a strategic partnership with US-based Nova Minerals to strengthen US-Pakistan ties and explore antimony and rare earth investments. Nova Minerals plans to purchase over 100 tonnes of Pakistani antimony next year for testing in Alaska, with potential downstream processing in Pakistan.
Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation and US Strategic Metals signed a $500 million MoU to boost cooperation in the critical minerals sector. Despite these developments, local miners complain Pakistan remains at the lower end of the value chain, with raw ore largely exported to China at low prices.
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Experts and executives, however, see huge potential. Nova Minerals’ CEO Christopher Gerteisen called Pakistan “a virgin country for mineral exploration” and said US buyers are willing to pay well above Chinese rates. Analysts suggest this could expand Pakistan’s mining sector and deepen economic and strategic engagement with the US.