Gallium Prices Explained

Gallium prices fluctuated as the Chinese government announced stringent gallium exports because of the country’s limited production. China (the largest gallium producer) hopes to accommodate its increasing consumption by lessening exports. Additionally, the declining non-Chinese gallium stocks further curbed the global supply chain which influenced its spiking prices.

Why are gallium prices fluctuating?

1. Supply and Demand

Like many commodities, gallium prices are greatly influenced by the balance between supply and demand. Gallium is in high demand, particularly in the electronics and semiconductor sectors as it is a crucial component in manufacturing LEDs, photovoltaic cells, and diverse electronic devices.

Thus, the extent of demand directly impacts gallium prices.

2. Production Costs

The market price of gallium is impacted by the expenses incurred in its production, encompassing extraction, refining, and processing. Variations in energy costs, labor expenses, and raw material prices directly strike the overall production, ultimately putting pressure on gallium prices.

3. Market Competition

Competitive dynamics within the gallium industry can shape pricing approaches, leading to adjustments in prices based on market conditions, competitor pricing strategies, and efforts to capture a larger market share.

4. Government Policies and Regulations

Changes in government policies such as environmental regulations, export restrictions, incentives for gallium production, import, and tariffs greatly shape the supply chain and change gallium prices. For instance, the strict Chinese gallium exports contributed to its increasing prices in the market. 

Which variables impact the price of gallium?

• Supply and Demand
• Production Costs
• Market Competition
• Government Policies and Regulations
• Market Speculation
• Geopolitical Factors

Where does gallium come from?

Gallium was discovered in 1971. It is a non-radioactive, non-toxic metal and has been widely used as a semiconductor in various electronic devices.

It is relatively rare so its extraction is heavily dependent on the extraction of other metals like aluminum and zinc, making gallium a byproduct of these processes.

As a result, the availability and price of gallium are influenced by the demand for aluminum and zinc as well as advancements in gallium applications.

The process of obtaining gallium involves several stages, including extraction, purification, and refining. Here’s an overview of the process of gallium production:

1. Mining – Gallium is typically not directly extracted from minerals known for high gallium content; instead, it’s commonly found in small quantities within aluminum and zinc ores. Mining operations primarily focus on ores like aluminum and zinc, where gallium is present as a minor impurity.

2. Extraction and Concentration – It is mainly acquired as a secondary product during the refinement of aluminum or zinc. During the processing of aluminum or zinc ores, gallium tends to accumulate in the residues from refining. Subsequently, it is extracted and concentrated using a range of chemical and metallurgical processes.

3. Purification and Defining – The gallium-rich solutions obtained from the extraction processes are further purified through solvent extraction, ion exchange, or other refining techniques to remove impurities and isolate gallium.

4. Hydrometallurgical Processing – Gallium is further processed using hydrometallurgical methods, including solvent extraction and precipitation to obtain high-purity gallium.

5. Packaging – The purified gallium is processed into various forms based on the intended application, including gallium oxide or metal ingots. Furthermore, it is carefully packaged for distribution and use in different industries.

What are the uses of gallium?

These are some of the uses of Gallium:

1. Semiconductor – enhances the efficiency and performance of electronic devices.

2. Solar Cells – Utilized in thin-film photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity, particularly in certain solar panels.

3. Alloys – It is added to various alloys to improve their properties such as lowering the melting point or enhancing the strength and durability of materials.

4. Superconductors – Gallium-based superconducting materials are used in high-field magnets and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems.

5. Thermometers – Gallium alloys are used in thermometers and other temperature-sensitive devices due to their unique temperature-dependent properties.

6. Nuclear Reactors – Gallium is used in nuclear reactors as a neutron-absorbing material in control rods.

7. LED – Gallium compounds are used in LEDs and laser diodes. These products are crucial for modern lighting and optical communication systems.

What is the future price of gallium?

The Chinese government’s restrictions on exporting rare earth metals to ‘protect its national security and interests’ drive gallium prices upward. As a result, the Deloitte consultancy predicted that the commodity would experience regional shortages due to limited production.

Conversely, to counter global supply chain issues and even out the concentrated sources, Trafigura-owned Nyrstar (an American company) is exploring a $150 million germanium and gallium recovery and processing facility at its zinc smelter in Tennessee.

Additionally, Mytilineos (a Greek energy and metals conglomerate that used to produce gallium in the past on a non-commercial scale) is revisiting the process of gallium production, aiming to lower costs and improve quality.

On the demand side, the increasing utilization of gallium arsenide (GaAs) wafers to speed up signal processing in radio and microwave equipment in space and military applications provides further market volatility.

Thus, these new initiatives will stabilize its prices in the coming years. Also, market analysts predicted gallium prices to be between $700 and $800 per kilogram in 2030.  Overall, the global gallium market size is expected to gain growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025, with a CAGR of 4.1%.