Insight
Chip wars: A sign of things to come?
*Please note that this report only includes an Excel data file if this is indicated in "What's included" below
Report summary
The Chinese government has announced that it will impose export controls on gallium and germanium compounds - key raw materials in the manufacturing of circuit boards and solar panels among other things. This statement comes in response to protectionist actions taken in the semiconductor space by the US, Europe and Japan in recent months. Semiconductors are now becoming a battleground in the technology and raw materials war and their end-use applications are far reaching. These key raw materials are already identified on most countries’ critical and strategic minerals lists.
Table of contents
- Summary of events
- Impact on the wider markets
- China is responding to US, Japan and European export controls
- We have been here before. Concern around chip shortages is understandable.
- Consumption and trade with China is limited to a few key countries
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Substitution and / or alternative sources of supply
- Gallium supply ex-China
- Gallium substitution
- Germanium supply ex-China
- Germanium substitution
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Recovery and refining of gallium and germanium
- Gallium
- Germanium
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Gallium and germanium end uses
- Gallium compounds
- Germanium compounds
Tables and charts
This report includes the following images and tables:
- Global production of primary gallium
- Exports of gallium products from China
What's included
This report contains:
