Gallium Material File
The Netherlands Materials Observatory (NMO) publishes material files (in Dutch) that provide insight into the availability, applications and strategic relevance of specific materials. This report focuses on gallium and brings together up-to-date, carefully analysed information relevant to government policy-making and decision-making in industry.
Applications
The applications of gallium are: permanent magnets (46%), lighting (LEDs) (37%), integrated circuits (9%) and PV (3%).
Export restrictions
Since August 2023, China has introduced a mandatory export licence for gallium products (including GaN, GaAs, GaP and GaSe). In December 2023, an export ban to the US was added to this.
Price trends
Following a price spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, the price of gallium metal doubled from $220/kg in November 2022 to $455/kg in November 2024 as a result of the Chinese export measures.
Production and processing
Extraction
Gallium is a by-product of the processing of bauxite (~90%), zinc (~10%) and coal. In 2023, total gallium ‘extraction’ amounted to 760 tonnes, with China accounting for 98% of this.
Exploration
(not applicable).
Reserves
According to the USGS, gallium reserves amount to approximately 100,000 tonnes (in bauxite and zinc ore).
Processing
See ‘Extraction’.
Recycling
Gallium is recycled only from production scrap and not from end products due to the degree of dilution.
The Netherlands’ role in trade and use
Dutch imports and exports
Imports into The Netherlands (from China) are recorded for processed gallium (81129990) and unprocessed gallium (81129290). The Netherlands played a major role in Chinese exports of unprocessed gallium until 2022. A large proportion of EU imports passed through The Netherlands. Since the export restrictions were introduced, Chinese customs no longer report any exports of unprocessed gallium to The Netherlands.
Origin of Dutch imports
Gallium comes almost exclusively from China.
Applications in The Netherlands
The Netherlands has no direct (intermediate) applications for gallium. Gallium is relevant for end-uses, as indicated above.
Requests and conditions
This material file is only in Dutch and available exclusively on request to businesses and government bodies. The NMO makes the information in this file available, without obligation, to organisations active in the industry for which the content is relevant.
Organisations interested in one or more material dossiers can submit a request by sending an email via the button below. Please state in your email which file(s) you wish to receive. A member of the NMO team will then contact you to discuss the request in further detail.