A critical milestone has been reached today at the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter: the first shipment of antimony metal.
In August 2025, the Albanese Labor Government, Malinauskas South Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government announced a joint $135 million investment to modernise Nyrstar's Australian smelters for critical minerals production. That support, combined with Nyrstar's own investment, sees today's milestone reached ahead of schedule.
This marks an important step towards building an independent and sovereign Australian supply of antimony metal, a critical input for defence, semiconductor, energy and automotive industries worldwide.
The first shipment will be used by a domestic manufacturer on Australia's east coast, with future shipments to be exported to customers in Europe, Asia and the United States, supporting a more diverse and resilient global supply chain.
Nyrstar's inaugural shipment from its demonstration plant now provides Australian manufacturing firms with a reliable onshore alternative to what is currently imported.
The Albanese Government is backing Australia's critical mineral production, identifying Nyrstar's antimony production at Port Pirie under last year's US-Australia Critical Minerals Framework, and designating antimony a priority mineral for Australia's Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve.
Nyrstar is a major employer in the region, with around 1,050 workers at the Port Pirie smelter, representing approximately 10 per cent of the local workforce.
This milestone underscores the power of investing in local industry, supporting good, secure, jobs in regional communities while strengthening our ability to make more of what Australia needs, here at home.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres:
"Today's achievement shows the value of government backing Aussie manufacturing and minerals processing capabilities to boost regional Australia's role in the global critical mineral supply chain.
"This joint investment between governments and industry has shown results for the company and the workers within six months.
"The Albanese Government is delivering a Future Made in Australia just like this: ensuring local workers value-add to Australia's minerals and metals onshore and in community.
"This is a great example of what can be achieved when we leverage Australia's abundant natural resources, skilled workforce, existing facilities, and innovative research to maximise future opportunities."
Quotes attributable to Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas:
"This investment has always been backing industry to foster diversification, growth and develop the potential for entirely new export markets.
"Today we start to see that potential realised.
"This first shipment will be used by a domestic manufacturer, but future shipments will be sent to ports in Europe, Asia and the United States.
"This is South Australian industry pulling its weight in the global supply chain.
"And this is just the start with hopes for future production of not just antimony, but bismuth, tellurium, germanium and indium - all minerals critical to the clean energy transition as well as the defence and technology sectors.
"These are sectors that will play a decisive role in South Australia's future as AUKUS escalates, and Nyrstar stands ready to play a vital role producing the critical minerals that will underpin this unprecedented industrial growth."
