Technology metal price
Germanium price today: $10,196.74 per kg
Price as of 27 October 2026 · checked 28 October 2026 · USD per kg, metal
Summary
The germanium reference price is $10,196.74 per kilogram of metal as of 27 October 2026, +75.39% year to date and +398.60% since January 2020. China's exports of germanium metal fell to 7,520 kg in the first nine months of 2025 from 36,656 kg in the same period of 2023, and the reference price is up +398.60% since January 2020.
Germanium price in every unit and over time
| Measure | USD | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Per kilogram | $10,196.74 | Reference price, metal, 27 October 2026 |
| Per gram | $10.197 | kg price divided by 1,000 |
| Per troy ounce | $317.15 | 1 kg = 32.1507 troy ounces |
| Per pound | $4,625.16 | 1 kg = 2.2046 pounds |
| Per tonne | $10,196,740 | kg price times 1,000 |
| 1 January 2026 | $5,813.75 | Derived from the year-to-date change |
| Year to date | +75.39% | Rank 3 of 12 metals |
| January 2020 | $2,045.07 | Derived from the change since January 2020 (+398.60%) |
- January 2020 (derived) $2,045
- 1 January 2026 (derived) $5,814
- 27 October 2026 $10,197
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 germanium price
Export data show the supply cut
USGS reports China's germanium metal exports of 7,520 kg for January–September 2025, against 18,787 kg in 2024 and 36,656 kg in 2023. US imports of germanium metal fell an estimated 67% in 2025 to 7,000 kg, which USGS attributes to China's December 2024 ban on exports to the United States. Germanium dioxide imports rose 55% to 17,000 kg, which USGS ties likely to buying ahead of tariff changes on Canadian goods.
Benchmarks and reference price diverge
Argus puts the 2025 average European price for germanium metal (99.999%) at $4,100 per kg and for dioxide at $2,500. The metal price rose from $3,150 per kg in January 2025 to $5,380 in October 2025. The $10,197 reference price is 1.9 times the October 2025 benchmark, a gap that reflects the different date, purity and lot size more than a single market price.
Alternative supply is slow
USGS notes germanium-bearing zinc concentrate from a mine in Alaska (partly refined in Canada) while Tennessee zinc production has been suspended since November 2023. The Department of Energy announced $1 billion of critical mineral supply chain initiatives in August 2025, including germanium byproduct recovery. Global refinery data are limited and USGS calls available estimates difficult to verify.
Germanium annual average prices, Europe (USGS / Argus)
| Year | Price | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,187 | metal, 99.999%, per kg |
| 2022 | $1,294 | |
| 2023 | $1,392 | |
| 2024 | $1,991 | dioxide $1,281 |
| 2025 (est.) | $4,100 | dioxide $2,500; metal $5,380 in Oct 2025 |
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.
Germanium supply facts (USGS)
| Item | Finding | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Leading refinery producer | China | with Belgium, Canada, Germany, Russia and the US |
| US import sources, metal and dioxide (2021–24) | Belgium 41%, China 23%, Canada 17% | Germany 14%, other 5% |
| US net import reliance | More than 50% | every year 2021–2025 |
| Global refinery output | Not reliably reported | most producers do not publish |
What germanium is used for
| End use | Weight | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre optics | Largest US use | Germanium tetrachloride and dioxide in fibre cores |
| Infrared optics | Second | Lenses and windows for thermal imaging and defense |
| Semiconductors and solar cells | Third | Germanium wafers for multijunction space solar cells |
| Radiation detectors | Fourth | High-purity germanium detectors |
Dates and signals to watch
- 27 November 2026Suspension of the Chinese export ban to the US ends. Licences remain for all destinations.
- OngoingChina's monthly germanium export data; start of byproduct recovery projects funded by the August 2025 DOE announcement.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Germanium | $10,196.74 | +75.39% |
| Gallium price | $2,866.37 | +66.40% |
| Indium price | $850.50 | +2.11% |
All 12 prices · What is germanium? · Gallium and germanium stocks · Price calculator
Germanium price: frequently asked questions
What is the germanium price per kilogram?
$10,196.74 per kilogram of metal as of 27 October 2026, +75.39% year to date.
What is the germanium price per gram?
$10.20 per gram at the reference price.
Why is the reference price higher than the European benchmark?
Argus recorded $5,380 per kg for 99.999% germanium metal in October 2025 and a $4,100 per kg 2025 average. The reference price is a private-investor price for small lots on a later date, so it sits well above wholesale benchmarks.
What is germanium used for?
Fibre optics, infrared optics, semiconductors and solar cells, and radiation detectors, in USGS's order of US end-use size.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Germanium — 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.