Argus Germanium Prices
Overview
Germanium is a strategic semiconductor and optical material essential to the electronics, fibre optics, infrared, photovoltaics and military sectors. Demand is poised to grow steadily, driven by the expansion of high-speed data transmission networks, AI data centre buildout, next-generation solar technologies, and advanced imaging systems used in aerospace and defence.
Global supply remains constrained and geopolitically sensitive. Germanium is produced as a by-product of zinc, copper and coal processing, making its availability vulnerable to fluctuations in base metal markets and environmental regulations. Recent export controls and trade tensions have further highlighted germanium’s role as a critical mineral, with several governments adding it to national strategic materials lists.
How Argus germanium prices support the market
Argus provides trusted germanium price assessments and market intelligence, offering deep coverage of the germanium dioxide and germanium metal markets. Our insights help clients understand cost structures, anticipate supply bottlenecks and navigate procurement challenges.
We track germanium market trends, both in terms of supply-side fundamentals and in terms of demand from key consuming sectors, such as fibre optics and infrared.
All Argus prices for germanium, as well as for other related electronic metals such as gallium – are supported by comprehensive news coverage, commentary explaining the price movements and analysis of market trends.
Argus germanium price assessments are widely used in supply contracts and procurement strategies, especially in sectors where purity, consistency and traceability are paramount, such as defence and high-tech manufacturing.
These prices are found in Argus Non-Ferrous Markets
Find out morePrice assessment details
Europe:
- Germanium dioxide min 99.999pc (or ‘five nine’) cif main airport Europe is the benchmark price for dioxide in Europe. Dioxide is used as a feedstock for producing metal and germanium chemicals like germanium tetrachloride.
- Germanium metal min 99.999pc (‘five nine’) cif main airport Europe is the benchmark price for germanium metal in Europe, where it is critical to a number of high-tech manufacturing sectors.
Asia:
- Germanium dioxide 99.999pc ex-works China reflects the Chinese domestic market for dioxide.
- Germanium dioxide 99.999pc fob China reflects the export price from China, the world’s largest producer of germanium.
- Germanium metal (zine refined ingot) min 99.999pc ex-works China reflects the Chinese domestic price for refined germanium, which is of electronics grade.
- Germanium min 99.999pc fob China is the benchmark export price for germanium metals from the world’s largest producing region.
How Argus germanium price assessments are used by the market
Long-term supply contracts
Germanium’s strategic importance in defence and high-tech sectors makes long-term pricing visibility essential. Argus assessments are used to index contracts for germanium metal and dioxide, ensuring transparency and consistency across global supply chains.
Business planning
With geopolitical events and environmental regulations affecting germanium supply, Argus provides critical intelligence on sourcing, trade policy effects and production trends. The price transparency and market intelligence delivered by Argus help keep the entire supply chain up to date, allowing for better planning and strategic decision making.
Government
Along with other metals that appear on government critical materials lists, germanium supply is closely monitored by countries that are exposed to geopolitically motivated supply risks. Prices for germanium are closely monitored as a signal for tight supply in open markets and Argus news on export controls is essential reading for government agencies that need to ensure access to germanium and its related metals for critical technology and defence applications.