China’s antimony concentrate imports rose sharply in March in response to renewed demand, after most metal smelters in China resumed production from late February as the country’s Covid-19 outbreak eased.

The country imported 5,464t of antimony concentrate in March, up by 61pc from 3,399t in March 2019, official customs data show.

A total of 2,804t of the material was imported from Tajikistan and 327t was imported from Russia, up by 7.6pc and 259pc from the previous year. Shipments from Australia and Canada were 1,668t and 354t, while deliveries from Bolivia and Peru were 178t and 133t respectively. China did not import antimony concentrate from these countries a year earlier.

China imported 15,742t of antimony concentrate during January-March, down by 10.15pc from 17,520t a year earlier.

Imports in April are estimated to fall, as the coronavirus outbreak outside of China, since mid-March has forced most countries to halt production as part of their own Covid-19 lockdowns.