China convicts 27 people for smuggling 166 tons of critical chipmaking element antimony — heavily-restricted mineral used for semiconductor manufacturing exported without licenses, court decides

A Chinese court has convicted 27 individuals for smuggling 166 tons of antimony, a crucial mineral for semiconductor production, without proper export licenses. The main defendant, Wang Wubin, received a 12-year prison sentence and a significant fine. Antimony is vital for various applications, including semiconductors, batteries, and defense technologies. China recently lifted the ban on exporting strategic minerals to the US, but strict licensing controls remain in place. The smuggling case is linked to recent incidents involving the illegal export of antimony to other countries.