Technology metal price
Gallium price today: $2,866.37 per kg
Price as of 27 October 2026 · checked 28 October 2026 · USD per kg, metal
Summary
The gallium reference price is $2,866.37 per kilogram of metal as of 27 October 2026, +66.40% year to date and +861.22% since January 2020. China produced 99% of the world's primary low-purity gallium in 2025, and the reference price has risen +861.22% since January 2020.
Gallium price in every unit and over time
| Measure | USD | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Per kilogram | $2,866.37 | Reference price, metal, 27 October 2026 |
| Per gram | $2.866 | kg price divided by 1,000 |
| Per troy ounce | $89.15 | 1 kg = 32.1507 troy ounces |
| Per pound | $1,300.16 | 1 kg = 2.2046 pounds |
| Per tonne | $2,866,370 | kg price times 1,000 |
| 1 January 2026 | $1,722.58 | Derived from the year-to-date change |
| Year to date | +66.40% | Rank 4 of 12 metals |
| January 2020 | $298.20 | Derived from the change since January 2020 (+861.22%) |
- January 2020 (derived) $298
- 1 January 2026 (derived) $1,723
- 27 October 2026 $2,866
Source: supplier reference prices for private investors, USD per kg of metal. Derived values back-calculate from the stated percentage changes and are rounded. How we price
What is moving the gallium price
One country, one byproduct stream
USGS puts 2025 world primary low-purity gallium production at about 900 tonnes, China 99% of it, with small output in Japan (3 t) and Russia (6 t). Gallium is a byproduct of bauxite (alumina) refining, so supply cannot respond quickly to price. USGS lists announced projects in Australia, Canada, Greece, Kazakhstan and Korea.
Export controls since August 2023
China licensed gallium exports in August 2023, banned all gallium exports to the United States in December 2024, and suspended that ban for one year in November 2025 (until 27 November 2026). Licences are still required for every destination. US imports of gallium metal more than doubled in 2025 to 25,000 kg, and the USGS import unit value reached $580 per kg, up 30% from $439.
Reference price against import values
The $2,866 reference price for refined metal compares with a 2025 US import unit value of $580 per kg (2021: $277). Those are customs values for metal averaging purities and lots, so they understate the price for high-purity metal in small quantities. The ratio, 4.9x, is context rather than a spread.
US gallium metal import value, USGS (dollars per kg)
| Year | Price | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $277 | average unit value of imports |
| 2022 | $432 | |
| 2023 | $365 | |
| 2024 | $439 | |
| 2025 (est.) | $580 | US Census Bureau, HTS 8112.92.1000 |
The reference price is a private-investor metal price at a single date. The benchmarks above are annual averages for a different form (oxide or an import value) and a different channel, so the gap between them is context, not an arbitrage. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
World primary low-purity gallium production (USGS)
| Country | 2025e (t) | Capacity 2025 (t) |
|---|---|---|
| China | 900 | 1,600 |
| Russia | 6 | 10 |
| Japan | 3 | 10 |
| Other countries | — | 100 |
| World total | 900 | 1,700 |
China 2025 figure estimated from Asian Metal; USGS rounds the world total to 900 t.
What gallium is used for
| End use | Weight | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated circuits (GaAs, GaN) | 73% of US consumption | Defense, high-performance computing, telecom |
| Optoelectronics (LEDs, lasers, photodetectors) | 26% of US consumption | Aerospace, consumer goods, medical and telecom equipment |
Dates and signals to watch
- 27 November 2026Suspension of the Chinese ban on gallium exports to the United States ends (Announcement 72 of 2025). Military end-use remains banned.
- OngoingWestern projects: the $29.9 million Department of War award for a Louisiana gallium and scandium facility; the Department of Energy research funding of up to $6 million for recovery from alumina or zinc.
These are scheduled or reported events, not forecasts. We do not publish price targets. Chinese announcement dates should be checked against the original MOFCOM text; see the export-control timeline.
Compared with related metals
| Metal | USD per kg | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Gallium | $2,866.37 | +66.40% |
| Germanium price | $10,196.74 | +75.39% |
| Indium price | $850.50 | +2.11% |
All 12 prices · What is gallium? · Gallium and germanium stocks · Price calculator
Gallium price: frequently asked questions
What is the gallium price per kilogram?
$2,866.37 per kilogram as of 27 October 2026, +66.40% year to date.
What is the gallium price per gram?
$2.87 per gram at the 27 October 2026 reference price. Small lots from dealers carry premiums above this.
Why is China's gallium export control so important?
China accounts for 99% of primary low-purity gallium output in the USGS 2026 data. The United States has not recovered primary gallium since 1987 and relies on imports for 100% of its metal consumption.
Is the gallium export ban to the US still in force?
The US-specific ban is suspended until 27 November 2026 (MOFCOM Announcement 72 of 2025). Exports to all countries still require a Chinese licence, and exports for US military end use stay banned.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Gallium — February 2026, 2025 estimates
- China Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), export control announcements 23/2023, 33/2024, 46/2024, 18/2025, 70/2025 and 72/2025 — check the original text for the current licence status
- Fastmarkets: China suspends export prohibition on gallium, germanium, antimony, superhard materials to US
Reference prices are indicative, not offers to buy or sell, and not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.