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Germanium is a metalloid with a global refinery production that amounted to *** metric tons in 2022. China is by far the world's leading germanium refining country, having accounted for ** percent of global refinery production in 2022. The key application of germanium is as a component in semiconductors due to the metal’s exceptional thermal conductivity and high conductivity properties. 

Key facts about germanium production worldwide

The largest end-use of germanium is for use in optical fibers, which accounted for ** percent of the global germanium consumption volume in 2023. The value of germanium has increased considerably since 2018, as the global germanium price stood at over U.S. dollars per kilogram as of January 2025, in comparison to U.S. dollars per kilogram in the former year. Countries classified as politically unstable accounted for the largest proportion of germanium production in the world, at *** metric tons in 2022. 

The Germanium industry in China

China is the leading producer of germanium worldwide, with its production having accounted for a ** percent share of the global supply of germanium in 2022. China exports the largest volume of germanium to the United States for consumption, with China's germanium exports amounting to a value of **** million U.S. dollars in 2023. In August 2023, China banned exports of Germanium worldwide, impacting supply chains for countries like the U.S. which have historically depended on China’s supply to meet their needs.