Price

Gallium Pricing and Market Data

Gallium prices spiked dramatically in 2024-2025 after China imposed export controls on gallium and germanium products in August 2023, later tightening them further in late 2024. China produces over 95% of the world's primary gallium as a byproduct of aluminum refining. The controls sent 99.99% gallium prices from around $300/kg to over $900/kg by early 2026. Western nations scrambled to develop alternative supply chains - Japan, South Korea, and Canada announced emergency gallium recycling and recovery programs. The U.S. Department of Defense added gallium to its stockpiling priorities. The price shock exposed the extreme concentration risk in compound semiconductor supply chains, as gallium arsenide and gallium nitride are critical for 5G, defense radar, and power electronics.

Pricing Mechanisms

Gallium is priced using benchmarks from Fastmarkets/Asian Metals. Gallium pricing operates through a combination of exchange-based benchmarks, price reporting agency assessments, bilateral negotiation, and long-term offtake contracts. The specific mechanism depends on product form, grade, and the buyer-seller relationship.

Price History and Notable Market Events

The Gallium market has been shaped by the following key events:

Price Drivers

Key factors influencing Gallium prices include production levels in China (98% of global supply), demand from semiconductors (gaas, gan) and 5g telecommunications, inventory levels, energy costs, and government policy actions such as export restrictions or strategic stockpiling.

Spot vs. Contract Pricing

The Gallium market features both spot transactions and longer-term contracts. Spot prices reflect current conditions and are more volatile, while multi-year offtake agreements provide supply security for both producers and consumers. Current spot pricing is in the range of 500-690 $/kg.