Australia, 21 October 2025 - International producer of critical and strategic metals Nyrstar today confirmed it had received a non-binding and conditional letter of support from Export Finance Australia (EFA) for financing for the company’s production of antimony in Port Pirie, South Australia and investments that support production of critical and strategic metals at its Australian sites.

EFA support is conditional on agreeing mutually acceptable commercial and financial terms and remains subject to further due diligence, including environmental, social, and financial assessments, credit, risk and legal approvals and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Nyrstar is currently developing a pilot plant for the production of antimony in Port Pirie. This is expected to be complete early next year, enabling initial batches of antimony metal to be produced and exported in the first half of 2026. Subject to support and upgrades, there is capacity to scale up to 5,000 tonnes of antimony metal per annum by 2028, equivalent to approximately 15% of the global market.

Antimony, critical to key sectors in Australia and the US including defence, AI and data centres, energy and consumer goods, can be recovered as a by-product of lead processing, and Port Pirie is Australia’s only lead refining facility.

Nyrstar Australia Chief Executive Matt Howell said that Nyrstar was pleased to have received the letter of support from EFA, and to be a part of the pipeline of critical minerals projects announced as part of the US-Australia Critical Minerals and Rare Earths Framework.

“Targeted investment is an integral part of the policy framework needed to retain existing smelting capability and in doing so, deliver the critical and strategic metals Australia and the world needs,” Mr Howell said.

“Through our existing infrastructure in Port Pirie, Nyrstar is well positioned to play a pivotal role in securing antimony metal supply for Australia and the US.”

In addition to antimony production, Nyrstar is also exploring the potential to produce bismuth and tellurium in Port Pirie, as well as germanium and indium at its Hobart Zinc Works.

About Nyrstar
Nyrstar is an international producer of critical minerals and metals essential for a low carbon future with mining, smelting and other operations located in Europe, the United States and Australia. Nyrstar’s operating business is wholly owned by Trafigura, one of the world’s leading independent commodity trading and supply chain logistics companies.
Nyrstar Australia is a national multi-metals processing and refining business, operating in Port Pirie and Hobart for over 100 years to produce lead, silver, zinc, and many other materials that are essential for the manufacture of products used by everyone, every day. Nyrstar Australia employs over 1,400 people across processing plants in Port Pirie and Hobart that operate as two interlinked sites and play a critical role in increasing the value of the metals and minerals obtained from resources sourced from across Australia and around the world.

About Export Finance Australia (EFA)
Export Finance Australia (EFA) is Australia’s export credit agency. EFA provides commercial finance for export trade and overseas infrastructure development. From small and medium-sized enterprises to large corporates and infrastructure projects, EFA helps Australian businesses take on the world. In doing so, EFA's finance supports Australia’s economic security and resilience. EFA administers the Australian Government’s National Interest Account, which currently includes the Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility, Critical Minerals Facility, the Defence Export Facility and lending for the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.

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