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China bans exports of gallium, germanium and antimony to the US

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China has announced it is banning the export of critical minerals gallium, germanium, antimony, as well as superhard materials to the US. A new review of graphite is also set to be implemented.

The ban comes after the US imposed stricter restrictions on semiconductor-related exports to China, including new controls on 24 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and 140 companies on a “entity list”.

Sources of gallium and germanium imported into US - The Oregon Group - Critical Minerals and Energy Intelligence

The wording of the first section of the ban specifies “dual-use items are prohibited from being exported to US military users or for military purposes,” and the second section broadens the ban “in principle” to the totality of the US.

“China has lodged stern protests with the US for its update of the semiconductor export control measures, sanctions against Chinese companies, and malicious suppression of China’s technological progress.

I want to reiterate that China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security, abuse of export control measures, and illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against Chinese companies”

— Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said in a routine briefing Tuesday

A report, released in November, by the US Geological Survey, warned there could be a US$3.4 to 9 billion decrease in US GDP if China implements a total ban on exports of gallium and germanium, minerals used in some semiconductors and other high-tech manufacturing.

Estimated net decrease in U.S. gross domestic product at different levels of restrictions of Chinas net exports of gallium or germanium by industry - The Oregon Group - Critical Minerals and Energy Intelligence

China dominates the production and processing the gallium, germanium and antimony:

total global antimony mine production in 2023 was approximately 83,000 tonnes. The largest producer, by far, is China
and, China enjoys a near monopoly on global supply of both gallium and germanium: gallium: 94%, germanium: 83%

The move comes after China has already imposed some restrictions on the exports of the critical minerals.

Gallium and Germanium exports from China - The Oregon Group - Critical Minerals and Energy Intelligence

As we warned, gallium and germanium have become the “canary in the mine” for critical minerals — China will be watching closely to see how the West responds as supply tightens.

Aand a supply shortage has triggered the steepest rally in price “ever recorded” in the global antimony market since April, according to FastMarkets who began recording prices from January 1980.

Our analysis:

Why are antimony prices exploding

The canary in the gallium and germanium mine

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