CHINA will impose export limits on antimony and related elements in the name of national security, in Beijing's latest move to restrict shipments of critical minerals in which they are the dominant supplier, reports Reuters.

China accounted last year for 48 per cent of global mined output of antimony, used making munitions and war materiel, as well as in batteries and photovoltaic equipment.

The restrictions are being imposed "in order to safeguard national security and interests, and fulfil international obligations such as non-proliferation", said the commerce ministry.