Global germanium refinery production 2021, by country

Germanium is a metalloid with a global refinery production that amounted to 131 metric tons in 2019 and increased to 140 metric tons in 2021. The key application of germanium is as a component in semiconductors due to the metal’s exceptional thermal conductivity and high conductivity properties.

Key facts about germanium production worldwide

The largest end-use of germanium is for use in optical fibers, which accounted for 34 percent of the global germanium consumption volume in 2023. The value of germanium has increased since 2019 and the global germanium price stood at over 2,800 U.S. dollars per kilogram as of January 2024. Countries classified as politically unstable accounted for the largest proportion of germanium production in the world, at 118 metric tons in 2021.

Facts about the Germanium industry in China

China is the leading producer of germanium worldwide, with its production having accounted for a 93 percent share of the global supply of germanium in 2021. China exports the largest volume of germanium to the United States for consumption, and its exports of germanium amounted to a value of 12 million U.S. dollars in 2022. In August of 2023, China banned exports of Germanium worldwide, impacting supply chains for countries like the U.S. which have historically depended on China’s supply to meet their needs.