Gallium Summary
Gallium is a chemical element with the symbol Ga and atomic number 31. It is located in group 13 (boron group) of the periodic table and is classified as a post-transition metal.
Unique Characteristics and Attributes
- Soft, silvery-blue metal with low melting point of 29.76°C (85.57°F), allowing it to melt in the human hand or at slightly warm room temperatures.
- High boiling point of approximately 2,000 – 2,403°C, resulting in the largest liquid range of any known element.
- Density: 5.91 g/cm³ (solid), increasing to 6/095 g/cm³ (liquid); expands ~3.1% upon solidification (similar to water).
- Amphoteric chemical behavior (reacts to both acids and bases); primarily exhibits +3 oxidation state.
- Forms key compounds such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium nitride (GaN), essential for semiconductors.
- Non-toxic, appears glass-like when solid; occurs in trace amounts in bauxite and zinc ores (not found in native form).
- Electron configuration: [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p¹. These properties make gallium highly suitable for high-tech applications, though it is typically used in compound form rather than elemental.
Recent Export Restrictions by China
China dominates global gallium production and has used export controls amid U.S.-China trade and technology tensions. Key developments include:
- July 2023: Initial export controls requiring licenses for gallium (and germanium) shipments.
- August 2023–September 2024: Broader restrictions on gallium, germanium, and antimony.
- December 2024: Outright ban on exports of gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials to the United States.
- November 2025: Suspension of the U.S.-specific ban on gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials, effective immediately until November 27, 2026, following high-level U.S.- China talks.
- Broader licensing requirements and export controls remain in place; the suspension is temporary and tied to ongoing trade negotiations. These policies previously caused near-zero exports from China in affected periods, significantly increasing global prices (e.g., European prices rose sharply). As of February 2026, the U.S.-specific ban remains suspended, but licensing and potential reinstatement risks persist.
Breakdown of Key End Markets
Gallium demand is primarily driven by its use in advanced compounds (GaAs, GaN) for highperformance electronics. Approximate global consumption shares (based on recent data, including U.S. figures where ICs dominate):
- Integrated Circuits (ICs) and Semiconductors — 70–79% Primary applications: High-performance computing, defense systems, 5G/ telecommunications transistors, electric vehicles, data centers, radar/power electronics.
- Optoelectronic Devices — 20–25% Primary applications: LEDs, laser diodes, photodetectors, solar cells, fiber optics, medical equipment.
- Other Uses — 1–5% Includes aerospace/defense electronics, thermoelectric devices, NdFeB magnets, energy storage, research & development.
The semiconductor and IC sector leads due to gallium’s superior electrical/thermal properties, with strong growth in optoelectronics driven by renewable energy, 5G, EVs, and digital infrastructure.
Production by Country
Gallium is recovered as a byproduct of bauxite/zinc processing, with China overwhelmingly dominant. Latest estimates (2024 data from USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025):
World primary low-purity production (2024e): ~760,000 kg World production capacity: ~1,100,000 kg
China’s control over ~99% of primary production makes global supply sensitive to its policies. High-purity gallium is refined in several countries, including the U.S. (from imports and scrap). No significant primary production occurs in the United States.