(Reuters) -United States Antimony Corporation said on Tuesday it has secured a sole-source, five-year contract worth up to $245 million from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency to supply antimony metal ingots for the defense stockpile.

The new contract underscores a broader Trump administration effort to shore up U.S. supply chains for strategic materials amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing dependence on foreign sources, particularly China.

President Donald Trump has taken a series of executive and policy actions aimed at securing U.S. access to critical minerals, citing national security and economic independence.

Antimony - used in munitions, batteries, flame retardants, and military-grade compounds - has been flagged by defense officials as a vulnerability in the U.S. industrial base.

"It's incredibly meaningful for all our employees to play such a strategic role in strengthening our nation's defense readiness," USAC CEO Gary C. Evans said in a statement.

USAC, which operates North America's only two antimony smelters, is positioned to begin immediate fulfillment from its domestic facilities, with the first delivery order expected this week, the company said.

The contract follows months of negotiations and builds on a growing partnership between USAC and the Department of Defense that accelerated in late 2024.