After a sharp decline in April, exports increased again in May. Japan also received the first shipment of Chinese gallium since stricter export controls were introduced.
Following a dramatic drop in April, China’s exports of gallium and germanium rose significantly again in May. This is shown by the latest figures from the country’s customs authority.
In total, China exported 6,200 kilograms of gallium in May. This marks a recovery after the April slump, when only three kilograms were exported. The May figure also aligns with the levels seen in the first three months of the year, when monthly shipments ranged between 5,000 and 6,000 kilograms. However, the year-on-year comparison still shows a stark contrast: in May 2025, China did not export any gallium.
China’s gallium exports in recent months
Of the 6,200 kilograms exported in May, the vast majority, 6,000 kilograms, went to Japan. This marks Japan’s first receipt of Chinese gallium this year. Due to diplomatic tensions, China introduced stricter export controls targeting Japan’s military sector in January. In practice, however, these measures also affected supply chains in other industrial sectors.
The remaining 200 kilograms of gallium were shipped to Malaysia, which had been the only recipient in April.
Germanium exports also rebound
Germanium exports also saw a strong increase in May. China exported a total of 1,134 kilograms of this technology metal, compared to just two kilograms in April. Year-on-year, exports also rose significantly, up 68% compared to May 2025.
China’s germanium exports in recent months
The bulk of Germanium exports in May, 1,042 kilograms, went to Russia. The country has consistently been one of the main buyers in previous months. Smaller quantities were shipped to Germany, Turkey, Australia, and Italy.
Gallium and germanium are critical technology metals used in a wide range of civilian and military applications, including semiconductor production. As the dominant global producer, China placed strict export controls on both materials in mid-2023. Since then, trade flows have fluctuated significantly and often depend on the current political relationships with importing countries.
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