Executive Interviews

Asian Metal: Hello, Mr. Li. Welcome to our interview section. Could you please give us a brief introduction to your company's operations and main business?

Mr. Li: Zhuzhou Ante New Material Technology Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive industrial enterprise integrating R&D, production, and sales of new materials. Established in 2000, the company has over 20 years of experience specializing in the research and production of antimony and zinc series products. We are located at No. 2 Longshan Road, You County High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Hunan Province, a provincial-level high-tech zone. The company adopts advanced production equipment and the most advanced domestic production processes, with an annual output of 20,000 tons of sodium antimonate (NaSbO3·H2O), 5,000 tons of sodium metantimonate (NaSbO3), 5,000 tons of antimony trioxide (Sb2O3), 15,000 tons of active zinc oxide (ZnO), and a certain volume of zinc carbonate (ZnCO3). We have strong technical capabilities and a team of highly skilled professionals. Our patented “Preparation Method for Ultra-White Sodium Antimonate,” developed jointly with universities, has been successfully granted a national patent. In 2009, commissioned by the National Standardization Administration of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, we drafted and revised the industry standard for sodium antimonate (HG/T 3254-2010), which was officially issued and implemented in 2010. In 2012, the company obtained ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications for quality and environmental management systems.

Asian Metal: What are your company’s competitive advantages in the domestic sodium antimonate market?

Mr. Li: Since entering the sodium antimonate market in 2000, we have accumulated over 20 years of professional experience in R&D and production. We have a strong technical team, high-standard laboratories, and multiple national invention patents, including the “Preparation Method for Ultra-White Sodium Antimonate,” “Reaction Kettle for Sodium Antimonate Production,” and “High-Efficiency Environmentally Friendly Sodium Antimonate Preparation Method.” In 2019, we successfully developed China’s first generation of nano sodium metantimonate, filling a gap in domestic production. We also received another national patent for a “High-Temperature Reactor for Producing Sodium Metantimonate by Dehydration of Sodium Antimonate.” In the field of active zinc oxide, our technologies—such as the “Discharge Device and Method for Nano Zinc Oxide Production,” “Preparation and Modification Method of Nano Zinc Oxide Catalyst,” and “Preparation Method of Zinc Oxide Desulfurizer”—have all been granted national invention patents. Thanks to our technical foundation, our products maintain consistently high quality with purity levels exceeding 99% and minimal impurities.

Asian Metal: What’s your perspective on the current state of the photovoltaic (PV) market? What opportunities exist in this sector?

Mr. Li: In 2024, the PV market has continued to demonstrate robust growth, particularly in areas such as technological advancements, cost reductions, policy support, and market diversification. The market scale is expanding steadily. As one of the world’s largest PV markets, China continues to lead globally in both newly installed and cumulative PV capacity. Additionally, the market share of N-type solar cells has risen to over 25%, reflecting the industry's shift toward higher efficiency and environmentally friendly technologies. Improvements in maximum module power and the application of bifacial modules have further enhanced PV system efficiency. Government support—through subsidies, tax incentives, financial aid, and green credit—has played a crucial role in ensuring the viability and development of PV enterprises. Moreover, the distribution of new installations is becoming more diversified. While growth in traditional markets such as China, Europe, and the U.S. is stabilizing, emerging markets like the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and Africa are expected to grow rapidly.

Asian Metal: Given the sharp rise in antimony raw material costs and weakening downstream demand, what challenges do you foresee for the sodium antimonate and PV markets?

Mr. Li: I believe the PV industry currently faces several key challenges. First is overcapacity. By 2024, production capacity across all major PV segments in China—polysilicon, wafers, solar cells, and modules—has exceeded 1,000 GW, with another 400 GW still under expansion. This far surpasses global demand, resulting in oversupply. Second, the imbalance between supply and demand is intensifying, especially domestically, where excess capacity has led to fierce price competition and increased cost pressures for enterprises. Third is policy uncertainty, which remains a major risk. Policy changes can directly affect the economic feasibility of PV projects and the profitability of companies. Lastly, rapid technological advancement has made market competition extremely intense. Companies must keep pace with innovation or risk losing their competitive edge.

Asian Metal: What is your outlook on future sodium antimonate prices?

Mr. Li: The price of sodium antimonate mainly fluctuates based on the cost of raw materials. In 2024, the price of antimony raw materials rose by more than 60%, driving up the price of sodium antimonate accordingly. However, due to weak downstream demand, we expect the price of sodium antimonate to remain in the range of RMB 90,000–110,000 per ton in 2025.

Asian Metal: In recent years, the PV market has grown rapidly, and PV glass production capacity has expanded quickly. What’s your view on the future prospects of the PV market?

Mr. Li: I believe the PV market still has broad prospects. In 2023, demand for sodium antimonate in the PV sector was approximately 80,000 to 100,000 tons. In 2024, this increased to 100,000 to 120,000 tons. Although demand is expected to decline to 60,000–70,000 tons in 2025, the long-term outlook remains positive due to rising global demand for clean energy and growing environmental awareness. In particular, the rapid development of distributed and residential PV systems will create new growth opportunities for the industry. Additionally, technological innovation will continue to be the core driving force, helping to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and promote product diversification and smart applications. Finally, international cooperation will remain vital. Chinese PV companies will continue expanding their global presence and influence, playing an increasingly important role in the global clean energy transition.

Asian Metal: What are your company’s development plans in terms of core products and deep processing businesses?

Mr. Li: We currently have no plans to further expand our antimony production capacity in 2025. Sodium antimonate capacity will remain stable, but we will continue to improve product quality and stability. The company plans to commission a new 20,000-ton active zinc oxide production line in the first quarter of 2025.

Asian Metal: Thank you for sharing your insights. We wish your company continued success and prosperity.

Mr. Li: Thank you.