Export controls
China's export ban on gallium, germanium and antimony to the US
China's ban on shipping gallium, germanium and antimony to the United States is suspended until 27 November 2026, 30 days after 28 October 2026. Licences for all destinations stay in force. US germanium metal imports fell 67% in 2025 and gallium metal imports more than doubled.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 and MOFCOM announcements · reviewed 28 October 2026
Timeline: licence, ban, suspension
| Date | Step | Metals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug 2023 | Export licensing begins (Announcement 23 of 2023) | Ga, Ge |
| 15 Sep 2024 | Antimony licensing (Announcement 33 of 2024, announced August) | Sb |
| 3 Dec 2024 | Ban on exports to the US and for US military end use (Announcement 46 of 2024) | Ga, Ge, Sb |
| 9 Nov 2025 | Article 2 (US ban) suspended until 27 Nov 2026 (Announcement 72 of 2025); Article 1 (military end use) stays | Ga, Ge, Sb |
| 27 Nov 2026 | Suspension expires unless extended or replaced | Ga, Ge, Sb |
What the trade data show
| Metal | Measure | Earlier | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germanium | China germanium metal exports, Jan–Sep | 36,656 kg (2023) 18,787 kg (2024) | 7,520 kg |
| Germanium | US imports of germanium metal | 21,000 kg (2024) | 7,000 kg (−67%) |
| Germanium | Europe 99.999% metal price (Argus) | $3,150/kg (Jan 2025) | $5,380/kg (Oct 2025) |
| Gallium | US imports of gallium metal | 11,000 kg (2024) | 25,000 kg |
| Gallium | US import unit value | $439/kg (2024) | $580/kg |
| Antimony | Metal price, CIF, 99.65% | $9.80/lb (Aug 2024) $18.10/lb (Dec 2024) | $27.50/lb peak (Jun) $20.30/lb (Nov) |
| Antimony | US net import reliance | 86% (2024) | 91% |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (Argus Media, Asian Metal, US Census Bureau). USGS does not attribute the 2025 rise in US gallium imports to a single cause.
Where prices stand today
| Metal | USD per kg | YTD | Since Jan 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallium | $2,866.37 | +66.40% | +861.22% |
| Germanium | $10,196.74 | +75.39% | +398.60% |
| Antimony | $36.18 | −34.24% | n/a |
Supplier reference prices for metal, 27 October 2026. See each price page for the USGS benchmark context.
Three scenarios for 27 November 2026
China has announced nothing beyond the suspension date. These are the possible outcomes, not forecasts, and none carries a probability here.
- Extension. China extends the suspension. Licensing for all destinations continues.
- Lapse. The suspension ends and the December 2024 ban on shipments to the United States applies again.
- Replacement. The ban is replaced by a different measure, such as end-use certification or general licences for named buyers.
Indicators to watch before the date: Chinese customs data on monthly germanium and gallium exports, any MOFCOM announcement, and US-China trade talks. Germanium and gallium are the most exposed because China produced 99% of primary gallium in 2025 and is the leading germanium producer (USGS).
Gallium, germanium and antimony export ban: frequently asked questions
Is China's export ban on gallium, germanium and antimony to the US still in force?
The US-only ban is suspended until 27 November 2026 (MOFCOM Announcement 72 of 2025). Licences are still required for exports to every country, and exports for US military end use remain banned.
When did China ban gallium, germanium and antimony exports to the US?
On 3 December 2024 (Announcement 46 of 2024). Gallium and germanium licensing had started on 1 August 2023 and antimony licensing on 15 September 2024.
What happens on 27 November 2026?
The suspension of Article 2 of Announcement 46 expires unless China extends or replaces it. We cannot say which: the three scenarios are listed on this page, and none has been announced.
How much have gallium, germanium and antimony prices moved?
Gallium reference price $2,866 per kg (+66.40% YTD), germanium $10,197 (+75.39%), antimony $36.18 (−34.24%), as of 27 October 2026.
Why did antimony fall while gallium and germanium rose?
USGS records antimony at a $27.50 per pound peak in June 2025 and $20.30 per pound by November 2025. Gallium and germanium supply is more concentrated in China (99% of primary gallium in 2025), and US germanium metal imports fell 67%. The data do not isolate the cause of the divergence.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Gallium
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Germanium
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Antimony
- Fastmarkets: China suspends export prohibition on gallium, germanium, antimony, superhard materials to US
- Clark Hill: China hits "pause" on rare-earth export controls
Back to the full export-control timeline.