China’s Evolving Antimony Trade Position and Competitive Edge: A Network Topology and Industry Analysis Perspective

Antimony is a critical metal for future industries, energy, and national defense. China was once the world’s largest exporter of antimony ore. However, in recent years, China’s antimony ore production has declined, driving profound transformations and restructuring in the global antimony trade landscape. This study integrates industry analysis with complex network topology methods, applying industrial concentration indices, oligopoly indices, and network topology indicators to global antimony trade data from 1994 to 2024 to analyze the evolution of China’s trade position and competitive edge. The findings reveal that the global antimony trade operates as an oligopolistic market. Although China’s resource-endowment advantage is diminishing, it retains a strong position in downstream, high-value-added segments. China’s competitive edge has shifted from resource exports to processed product exports, demonstrating an evolutionary pattern of “continued strength downstream and gradual weakening mid- to upstream.” By combining industry analysis and network topology, this study offers a novel perspective for assessing competitive edges in critical metals and provides scientific references for resource-rich countries in governing their advantageous mineral resources and formulating related policies.