China To Stockpile Germanium

Major end uses for germanium include applications
in optics, polymerization, and electronics.

HONG KONG (Reuters)--According to the Fanya Metal Exchange, the Chinese state buyer has sent purchase notices to China's four leading producers of germanium, Yunnan Germanium, Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium, Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet, and China Germanium Company Ltd. Fanya has no information on how much the state buyer will purchase, or when. Sources claim that a deal in June between Yunnan Germanium and energy company Hanergy tightened international supply, and experts predict that state purchases will drive the prices up further. Source: China's state buyer to stockpile germanium (Reliability: High)

Comment: Although substitutes exist in optics and electronics, germanium remains the most economic and efficient choice. If the Chinese government's purchases of germanium are significantly large, the price of germanium in international markets will almost certainly rise, causing a ripple effect in relevant industries.