# Germanium and Zinc Germanium is recovered from zinc refining residues and from coal ash, so outside China its supply rests on a few zinc operations such as Red Dog and Trail, while China's controls set the world price. Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/links/germanium-and-zinc/ [Germanium](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/germanium/) (commodity) and [Zinc](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zinc/) (commodity): 3 relationships. ## How they are linked ### 1. Recovered from zinc residues *Joint production · Asymmetric · Zinc refining yields germanium* Some zinc sulphide ores carry traces of germanium, which concentrate in the residues of zinc refining and are leached out; zinc output, not germanium demand, sets how much is available. - **100 to 200 t** estimated world germanium production, 2023 Teck's Trail complex in Canada recovers germanium from zinc concentrate shipped from the Red Dog mine in Alaska, and in 2025 germanium-bearing Alaskan concentrate was still being exported to a Canadian refinery. The tie is one-way: germanium is too small a market to change zinc mine plans, and US primary germanium production was nil from 2021 to 2025. Sources: [US Geological Survey](https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-germanium.pdf); [US Geological Survey](https://pubs.usgs.gov/myb/vol1/2023/myb1-2023-germanium.pdf) ### 2. Coal ash route in China *Substitution · Medium · Coal ash competes with zinc residues* Germanium also concentrates in certain lignite coals, and China recovers it from coal ash as well as from zinc residues, giving it a second source. China's significant germanium-bearing coal deposits include the Lincang lignite in Yunnan. Because China can draw on both routes, its supply is less tied to zinc output than supply elsewhere, though reliable data on the split between zinc, coal and recycled feed are not available. Sources: [US Geological Survey](https://pubs.usgs.gov/myb/vol1/2023/myb1-2023-germanium.pdf) ### 3. China controls supply *Shared risk · Strong · Germanium supply concentrated in China* China is the largest zinc miner and the leading germanium supplier, and it has licensed germanium exports since August 2023. - **about 34%** China's share of 2024 world zinc mine output (4,000 of 11,900 kt) - **$4,100 per kg** European germanium metal price, estimated 2025 average - **about 83%** China's share of world germanium supply, as cited in 2023 After controls began, China exported no germanium metal to the US from August to December 2023, and a full ban followed in December 2024; it was suspended in November 2025 until 27 November 2026, with licences still required. Western zinc smelters able to recover germanium, and suspended zinc mines such as Middle Tennessee, where drilling has sought zinc, germanium and gallium, draw more interest as a result. Sources: [US Geological Survey](https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-germanium.pdf); [US Geological Survey](https://pubs.usgs.gov/myb/vol1/2023/myb1-2023-germanium.pdf); [US Geological Survey](https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-zinc.pdf); [Mining Weekly (Reuters)](https://www.miningweekly.com/article/china-halts-ban-on-gallium-germanium-antimony-exports-to-us-but-controls-remain-2025-11-10); [Covington, Global Policy Watch](https://www.globalpolicywatch.com/2023/07/china-slaps-export-restrictions-on-two-critical-metals/) ## For investors ### Key learnings 1. Germanium supply outside China depends on a few zinc smelters, so a zinc mine or smelter outage can tighten germanium sharply. 2. Germanium credits can add value to zinc projects whose ores contain it, especially while Chinese controls keep prices high. 3. China's coal ash route makes Chinese germanium supply less tied to zinc output than supply elsewhere. ### What to track - **European germanium metal and dioxide prices**: Measure scarcity outside China (Weekly · Fastmarkets, Argus) - **Zinc smelter output outside China**: Sets non-Chinese germanium recovery potential (Monthly · ILZSG) - **China germanium export licences and volumes**: Signal tightening or easing (Monthly · China Customs, MOFCOM) ## For policymakers ### Key learnings 1. India is a large zinc miner and listed germanium as a critical mineral in 2023, so testing domestic zinc residues for germanium is a practical step. 2. By-product recovery needs refinery-level investment, not new mines, which makes it faster to deliver. 3. Export controls on germanium affect defence optics and fibre networks, so stockpiling is a policy option. ### What to track - **By-product recovery projects at Indian zinc smelters**: Show progress towards domestic germanium supply (As announced · Ministry of Mines, company reports) - **India germanium imports**: Show exposure to Chinese licensing (Monthly · DGCI&S) ## India India mined about 870 kt of zinc in 2024 and listed germanium as a critical mineral in June 2023, but the sources used report no Indian germanium production. ## Sources 1. [Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Germanium](https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-germanium.pdf), US Geological Survey (2026) 2. [2023 Minerals Yearbook: Germanium](https://pubs.usgs.gov/myb/vol1/2023/myb1-2023-germanium.pdf), US Geological Survey (2025) 3. [Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Zinc](https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-zinc.pdf), US Geological Survey (2026) 4. [China halts ban on gallium, germanium, antimony exports to US, but controls remain](https://www.miningweekly.com/article/china-halts-ban-on-gallium-germanium-antimony-exports-to-us-but-controls-remain-2025-11-10), Mining Weekly (Reuters) (2025) 5. [India releases list of 30 critical minerals crucial for economic development, national security](https://theprint.in/india/governance/india-releases-list-of-30-critical-minerals-crucial-for-economic-development-national-security/1646689), ThePrint (2023) 6. [China slaps export restrictions on two critical metals](https://www.globalpolicywatch.com/2023/07/china-slaps-export-restrictions-on-two-critical-metals/), Covington, Global Policy Watch (2023)