Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Source | Gallium Content | Recovery Method | Major Producers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayer Liquor (Alumina) | 100-300 ppm (concentrated) | Ion exchange, chelating resins | China (Chalco), Australia potential | Most economical source, 70% of production |
| Zinc Processing Residues | 50-200 ppm | Acid leaching, extraction | China, Japan (limited) | Secondary source, ~20% of production |
| Coal Fly Ash | 20-100 ppm | Roasting, acid leaching | China (Ordos pilot plant) | Emerging source, large potential |
| Electronic Waste (GaAs) | Variable (high in semiconductors) | Acid dissolution, recovery | Limited commercial recovery | 85% of GaAs waste currently discarded |
| Bauxite Ore Direct | 0.002-0.008% | Not economical | None commercially | Too dilute for direct extraction |
Byproduct Recovery - Primary Raw Material Source
Current Market Price: $680-1,022/kg (Rotterdam international price, June 2025) Chinese Domestic Price: $220/kg (creating 209% premium for Western buyers) Major Global Production: China: 98% of global production (430,000 kg in 2022) Bauxite Source: 70% of gallium extracted from Bayer liquor Zinc Source: 20% from zinc processing residues Other Sources: 10% from coal fly ash, electronic waste 2025 Production Status: Global production: ~760,000 kg annually China capacity: 750,000+ kg (with 200-300,000 kg expansion planned) Non-Chinese production: Export restrictions: China controls 100% of exports since Aug 2023 Raw Material Source Gallium Content Recovery Method Major Producers Notes Bayer Liquor (Alumina) 100-300 ppm (concentrated) Ion exchange, chelating resins China (Chalco), Australia pot
⚠️ Seawater Gallium Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.0005 ppm (extremely low - 4x lower than aluminum) Chemical Form: Dissolved as Ga(OH)₄⁻ complexes Status: No commercial seawater gallium extraction exists. Research projects (Sea4value) are exploring extraction from concentrated brines using specialized membranes, but remain experimental. Note: Unlike lithium, magnesium, and bromine which are commercially extracted from seawater, gallium's extremely low concentration makes extraction completely uneconomical.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/kg Gallium | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Material Processing | $50-100 | 15-20% | Access to Bayer liquor or zinc residues |
| Extraction & Purification | $80-150 | 25-30% | Ion exchange resins, acid consumption |
| Energy Costs | $40-80 | 12-15% | Heating, electrolysis for final purification |
| Labor & Overhead | $30-70 | 10-15% | Specialized handling required |
| Equipment & Maintenance | $20-50 | 8-10% | Corrosion-resistant equipment needed |
| Total Production Cost (China) | $220-450 | 100% | Compare to international price: $680-1,022/kg |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Type | % of Total Energy | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extraction from Bayer Liquor | Thermal/Electrical | 30-40% | Ion exchange, heating for desorption |
| Purification | Electrical | 25-35% | Electrolytic refining to 4N-6N purity |
| Concentration/Crystallization | Thermal | 20-25% | Evaporation, crystallization |
| Acid Recovery/Recycling | Thermal | 10-15% | HCl recovery, solution recycling |
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallium Metal (4N) | Ga | 69.72 g/mol | 99.99% | $680-1,022 | General semiconductor use |
| Gallium Metal (6N) | Ga | 69.72 g/mol | 99.9999% | $1,200-2,000 | High-end semiconductors, research |
| Gallium Arsenide (Wafer) | GaAs | 144.64 g/mol | 99.999% | $200-500/wafer | RF devices, solar cells, LEDs |
| Gallium Nitride (Substrate) | GaN | 83.73 g/mol | 99.99% | $1,500-3,000/wafer | Power electronics, 5G, radar |
| Trimethylgallium | Ga(CH₃)₃ | 114.83 g/mol | 99.999% | $5,000-8,000 | MOCVD precursor for GaN, GaAs |
| Gallium Oxide | Ga₂O₃ | 187.44 g/mol | 99.99% | $800-1,500 | Power semiconductors, UV detectors |
| Gallium Chloride | GaCl₃ | 176.08 g/mol | 99.99% | $1,000-2,000 | Chemical synthesis, catalysts |
| Gallium-Indium Eutectic | Ga-In | Variable | 99.99% | $1,500-2,500 | Liquid metal applications, thermal interface |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China (98% of global production)
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) | 4N-6N gallium metal, compounds | Largest producer, Guizhou branch leads in technology |
| Zhuhai Fangyuan | High-purity gallium, compounds | Major supplier to semiconductor industry |
| Beijing JiYa Semiconductor | 6N+ gallium, specialty compounds | Focus on ultra-high purity products |
| Zhuzhou Smelter Group | Gallium from zinc residues | Pioneer in zinc residue recovery |
🇯🇵 Japan (Limited production, major consumer)
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dowa Holdings | Recycled gallium, high-purity metal | ~10,000 kg/year from recycling |
| Sumitomo Metal Mining | Gallium compounds, recycling | Focus on GaAs waste recovery |
🇩🇪 Germany
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vital Pure Metal Solutions | 4N-6N gallium metal | ~12,000 kg/year current production |
| AOS Stade (Ingal Stade) | Planning restart | Closed 2016 due to Chinese competition, potential restart |
🇨🇦 Canada
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Tinto | Gallium from alumina refining | Quebec pilot plant: 3.5 tonnes/year, potential 40 tonnes commercial |
| 5N Plus | High-purity gallium, compounds | Specialty materials producer, limited gallium |
🇬🇷 Greece (Future production)
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mytilineos (Metlen) | Gallium from alumina | 50 tonnes/year planned from 2028, EU funding support |
🇦🇺 Australia (Exploration stage)
| Company | Product Forms | Capacity/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RareX | Gallium from rare earth clays | Cummins Range project: up to 6,826 g/t Ga in lateritic clays |
| Western Yilgarn | Gallium from bauxite | Julimar West project: up to 110 g/t Ga |
Market demand by product form
| Application | Market Share | Key Products | Growth Rate | Strategic Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductors (GaAs/GaN) | 65% | RF devices, power electronics, 5G | 25% CAGR | Critical for defense radar, communications |
| LEDs & Optoelectronics | 20% | Blue/white LEDs, laser diodes | 15% CAGR | Essential for displays, lighting |
| Solar Cells (CIGS) | 8% | Thin-film solar panels | 20% CAGR | High-efficiency renewable energy |
| Magnetic Materials | 5% | Gadolinium-gallium garnets | 10% CAGR | Specialized magnets, memory devices |
| Medical & Other | 2% | Radiopharmaceuticals, thermometers | 5% CAGR | Ga-67 for medical imaging |
Market trends
China Export Controls: 100% export licensing since August 2023, complete US ban December 2024, creating bifurcated market Price Divergence: Rotterdam price 3x higher than Chinese domestic price due to export restrictions Defense Criticality: GaN essential for next-gen radar (AN/SPY-6, F-35), creating national security concerns Supply Chain Diversification: US allocated $150M for strategic stockpiles, EU funding alternative production Technology Shift: GaN replacing GaAs in power applications, driving 25% CAGR in semiconductor segment Recycling Growth: Japan leading in GaAs waste recovery, but still Market Forecast: Expected shortage outside China through 2025-2026 until new capacity online Australian Potential: Highest grade deposits outside China discovered, but years from production
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallium Metal | Ga | 69.72 | 14.34 |
| Gallium Arsenide | GaAs | 144.64 | 6.91 |
| Gallium Nitride | GaN | 83.73 | 11.94 |
| Gallium Oxide | Ga₂O₃ | 187.44 | 5.33 |
| Gallium Chloride | GaCl₃ | 176.08 | 5.68 |
| Trimethylgallium | Ga(CH₃)₃ | 114.83 | 8.71 |
References
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