Metalloid, group 14
What is germanium? Properties, uses, supply and price
Germanium (Ge) is a metalloid (atomic number 32) recovered from zinc and coal processing and used in fibre optics, infrared optics, solar cells and radiation detectors. China is the leading producer, and its germanium metal exports fell 80% between 2023 and 2025.
Facts from USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · reviewed 28 October 2026
Germanium key facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol, atomic number | Ge, 32 |
| Group | Metalloid, group 14 |
| Main sources | Zinc and lead-zinc-copper sulfide ores, lignite coal |
| China exports of Ge metal, Jan–Sep | 36,656 kg (2023); 18,787 kg (2024); 7,520 kg (2025) |
| US net import reliance | More than 50% |
| Largest US end use | Fibre optics |
Where germanium comes from
A byproduct of zinc and coal
Available resources are associated with certain zinc and lead-zinc-copper sulfide ores and with lignite coal deposits. USGS says reserves are not widely reported at mine or country level and global refinery data are limited. Substantial germanium-rich deposits, including tailings, are in China, Congo (Kinshasa), Russia and the United States.
US supply chain
Zinc concentrates containing germanium are produced at a mine in Alaska; part goes to a refinery in Canada for germanium dioxide and tetrachloride. A Tennessee mine that also produced germanium-bearing concentrates has been suspended since November 2023. Companies in Utah and Oklahoma make germanium wafers and germanium tetrachloride from imported and recycled material.
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 |
Substitutes and recycling
Substitutes
Silicon or gallium arsenide replace germanium in some electronics, chalcogenide glass replaces it in some infrared uses, and antimony and titanium replace it as polymerisation catalysts (USGS).
Recycling
The US can recycle both new and old germanium scrap: machining scrap from infrared optics, decommissioned military lenses, fibre-optic manufacturing waste and solar wafers. Available data are too thin to estimate the amount.
Policy and supply security
Chinese controls
China introduced germanium export licensing in August 2023 and banned shipments to the US in December 2024, suspended in November 2025 until 27 November 2026. The Department of Energy announced $1 billion of critical mineral supply chain initiatives in August 2025, including germanium byproduct recovery.
Dated events and export-control steps are on the China export-control timeline. Listed companies with exposure: Gallium and germanium stocks.
Germanium: frequently asked questions
What is germanium used for?
In descending order of US use: fibre optics, infrared optics, semiconductors and solar cells, and radiation detectors.
Where does germanium come from?
Mainly as a byproduct of zinc processing and from coal fly ash. China is the leading producer; Belgium, Canada, Germany, Russia and the US also process or recycle it.
Is germanium a metal?
It is a metalloid: it has properties of both metals and non-metals, which is why it works as a semiconductor.
How much does germanium cost?
The reference price is $10,196.74 per kg as of 27 October 2026, +75.39% year to date.
Related elements
Sources
Information only, not investment advice. Reviewed 28 October 2026.