Commodity
Germanium
Germanium is a by-product metal with no market of its own. It is recovered mainly from zinc processing residues and some coal fly ash, so its availability depends on decisions taken for other reasons.
Price
Annual reference price
2025, estimatedNot a live price. Annual average, published once a year. Use it for scale and direction, not as today's price.
| Year | Price, USD/kg | Against the highest year shown |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,187.00 | |
| 2022 | 1,294.00 | |
| 2023 | 1,392.00 | |
| 2024 | 1,991.00 | |
| 2025e | 4,100.00 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, from Argus Non-Ferrous Markets assessments. Checked 13 September 2026.
What it is used for
- Infrared optics, including thermal imaging
- Fibre-optic cable
- Satellite solar cells
- Polymerisation catalysts
Supply
There is no exchange price and assessments are published by specialist trade services. Export controls have made supply a strategic question rather than purely a commercial one.
Principal producing countries: China, Russia, Belgium, Canada.
Producer list from United States Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, checked 10 September 2026.