重磅！金融时报：美国防部拟斥资10亿美元，加速抢购钴锑等关键矿产

Core Insights - The U.S. Department of Defense plans to procure up to $1 billion worth of critical minerals as part of a global inventory reserve program to address supply chain challenges [3][5] - Recent procurement intentions include $500 million for cobalt, $245 million for antimony, $100 million for tantalum, and $45 million for scandium, indicating a significant increase in procurement scale compared to historical efforts [3][5][6] - Analysts express skepticism regarding the feasibility of the proposed quantities within the five-year timeframe, as they exceed U.S. annual production and import levels for many minerals [5][6] Procurement Details - The Defense Logistics Agency's recent procurement intentions include approximately 3,000 tons of antimony, while the U.S. Geological Survey estimates total antimony consumption for 2024 at 24,000 tons [6] - The agency is also seeking potential procurement information for 222 tons of indium ingots, which is comparable to the estimated refined indium consumption of about 250 tons in 2024 [6] - The procurement targets for rare earths, tungsten, bismuth, and indium reflect a growing awareness of the strategic importance of these materials [7] Market Reactions - Market participants are surprised by the scale of the procurement requests, with many considering the quantities unrealistic given the proposed five-year timeframe [5][6] - The procurement activities signify a notable acceleration in the U.S. government's focus on critical minerals, driven by the Trump administration's initiatives [5] - Industry executives indicate that these plans demonstrate the government's recognition of the critical nature of these materials and a desire to support domestic production capabilities [7]