Both metals are key for various high-tech applications.
After a complete halt in May, China resumed gallium exports in June, according to the latest customs data. A total of 4,260 kilograms of the critical metal cleared Chinese customs last month. The two main destinations were Japan, with 2,004 kilograms, and Germany, with 2,000 kg, marking a partial recovery from May. In June 2024, China exported 4,184 kilograms.
Chinese gallium exports over the last months.
Germanium exports, however, remain at a critically low level. Only 96 kilograms were shipped in June, down from 1,328 kilograms in the same month last year. Germany received 74 kilograms, while Russia imported 22 kilograms. Other major consumers, including Japan and the United States, did not receive any germanium shipments.
Chinese germanium exports over the last months.
Both gallium and germanium are essential to high-tech industries, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing, fiber optics, and infrared systems. China is the world’s dominant producer of both metals. Since mid-2023, exports of gallium and germanium have been subject to a licensing regime, with official processing times of 45 working days. In practice, delays have often been longer, and exporters continue to face uncertainty. A ban on shipments of both metals to the United States, effective as of December 2024, remains in effect, further complicating global supply chains.
June also saw continued restrictions on other critical minerals, including dysprosium and terbium, with near-zero exports, and rare earth magnet shipments that, while recovering in volume, reflect fewer exports of high-performance grades due to export licensing.
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