BEIJING - China will impose export limits on antimony and related elements in the name of national security, its commerce ministry said on Thursday, Beijing's latest move to restrict shipments of critical minerals in which it is the dominant supplier.

China, the world's largest producer of antimony, a strategic metal used in flame retardants, batteries, munitions and photovoltaic equipment, accounted for 48% of global antimony mine production last year, US Geological Survey data showed.

The limits, effective from September 15, apply to six kinds of antimony-related products including antimony ore, antimony metals and antimony oxide, the ministry said in a statement.

The rules also ban the export of gold antimony smelting and separation technology without permission.

Exporters of affected products must apply for export licences for dual-use items and technologies - those with potential military as well as civil applications - it said.

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

At a regular weekly briefing on Thursday, the commerce ministry said the curbs are not directed at any specific country or region.

The US and other countries are scrambling to ease their reliance on China for key materials, setting out policies and support packages for their critical minerals sectors, including rare earths.

In an April research note, analysts at China Securities said increasing demand for arms and ammunition due to wars and geopolitical tensions was likely to see tightening control and stockpiling of antimony ore.

China's latest curbs follow a wave of such restrictions introduced since last year.

In December, China banned the export of technology to make rare earth magnets, which came on top of a ban already in place on exporting technology to extract and separate the critical materials.

Beijing has also tightened exports of some graphite products, and imposed restrictions on exports of gallium and germanium products widely used in the semiconductor industry.