Benchmark launches gallium and germanium metal price assessments

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is pleased to announce the launch of its Gallium and Germanium Price Assessments, bringing price transparency to these critical mineral markets.

Gallium and germanium are recovered as byproducts of aluminium and zinc processing, and both are essential to many modern technologies. Gallium is used in compound semiconductors, which underpin power electronics, 5G networks, LEDs and radar. Germanium is used in fibre optic cables, infrared optics, thermal imaging and the solar cells that power satellites. Both metals also have several applications important to the defence industry.

According to Benchmark's Gallium and Germanium Services, China accounts for around 86% of refined gallium production and roughly two thirds of refined germanium. Beijing introduced export licensing in August 2023 and has since tightened its controls, leaving buyers outside China facing restricted availability, volatile pricing and few reliable reference points.

A limited number of refiners outside of China are building capacity, but progress has been slow because gallium and germanium can only be recovered where a host operation has the equipment and a commercial reason to extract them.

“Gallium and germanium are small markets with an outsized strategic role, and with China restricting exports, buyers outside China have had very little price information to work from,” said George Ingall, a senior analyst at Benchmark. “Our new assessments bring transparency to opaque markets, giving producers, traders and consumers a clear reference point as supply chains adjust.”

What frequency will Benchmark publish its gallium and germanium prices?

Benchmark will publish its gallium and germanium prices every other Thursday. Through direct engagement with active market participants, Benchmark analysts track and assess transacted prices to give a representative view of market activity. The following grades will be published as part of the assessment:

Gallium; Gallium Metal; 99.99%; CIF Europe; USD; Tonne

Germanium; Germanium Metal; 99.999%; CIF Europe; USD; Tonne

As governments and companies work to develop supply chains outside China, Benchmark will continue to evolve its methodologies to reflect emerging trading dynamics. The new assessments are built on the same market leading price assessment methodologies that under Benchmark’s wider critical minerals prices, helping producers, traders and consumers manage price risk in markets that have until now been opaque.

To learn more about Benchmark's gallium and germanium prices fill out the form below and one of the team will be in touch.