Import origins by country since 2010
Where US imports come from each month, by country and grade.
Germanium Price per kg (United States)
On the US Critical Minerals List and the EU Critical Raw Materials Act list.
Price per kg contained
$4,861
- 1M
- −14.2%
- 6M
- −3.5%
- 1Y
- +109.1%
- 5Y
- -
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Germanium price chart
The Stockatomics monthly US benchmark for germanium, in US dollars per kg contained.
$4,861
- 1m
- −14.2%
- 6m
- −3.5%
- 1y
- +109.1%
- 5y
- -
18 October 2026
- Benchmark price
- $4,861
- Import volume
- Locked
- All-imports price
- Locked
- Premium-priced imports
- Locked
- China share of imports
- Locked
- China unit-value spread
- Locked
- Origin countries
- Locked
At a glance
Germanium price key figures
- Price per kg contained
- $4,861
- 1-month change
- −14.2%
- 6-month change
- −3.5%
- 1-year change
- +109.1%
- 5-year change
- -
- 12-month high
- $7,302
- 12-month low
- $3,831
- Price month
- October 2026
- Price type
- Stockatomics monthly benchmark
- Last updated
- 18 October 2026
By month
Germanium monthly prices
The germanium benchmark for every month from January 2010 to October 2026, in US dollars per kg contained, newest first.
| Month | Price per kg contained | Change |
|---|---|---|
| $4,861 | 0.0% | |
| $4,861 | 0.0% | |
| $4,861 | −14.2% | |
| $5,663 | −1.5% | |
| $5,749 | +6.6% | |
| $5,391 | +5.3% | |
| $5,119 | −6.0% | |
| $5,446 | +8.1% | |
| $5,036 | −31.0% | |
| $7,302 | +72.9% | |
| $4,222 | +10.2% | |
| $3,831 | −14.0% | |
| $4,456 | +27.5% | |
| $3,496 | +50.4% | |
| $2,324 | −36.3% | |
| $3,647 | −2.9% | |
| $3,754 | +200.6% | |
| $1,249 | 0.0% | |
| $1,249 | −55.9% | |
| $2,834 | +8.7% | |
| $2,609 | −7.0% | |
| $2,806 | +12.6% | |
| $2,493 | −4.5% | |
| $2,611 | −5.6% | |
| $2,767 | +13.4% | |
| $2,439 | +13.8% | |
| $2,143 | +15.6% | |
| $1,853 | +2.8% | |
| $1,802 | +1.7% | |
| $1,772 | +8.6% | |
| $1,632 | −1.4% | |
| $1,656 | +11.3% | |
| $1,487 | −2.8% | |
| $1,529 | −17.8% | |
| $1,861 | 0.0% | |
| $1,861 | +12.7% | |
| $1,651 | +3.1% | |
| $1,601 | +11.5% | |
| $1,436 | +9.0% | |
| $1,318 | +0.4% | |
| $1,313 | −13.0% | |
| $1,510 | +7.3% | |
| $1,407 | +7.0% | |
| $1,315 | +14.2% | |
| $1,151 | +2.7% | |
| $1,121 | +0.1% | |
| $1,119 | −14.7% | |
| $1,312 | +1.7% | |
| $1,290 | +14.1% | |
| $1,130 | −20.0% | |
| $1,413 | +3.6% | |
| $1,364 | +664.5% | |
| $178.40 | 0.0% | |
| $178.40 | 0.0% | |
| $178.40 | −45.8% | |
| $328.89 | 0.0% | |
| $328.89 | −0.2% | |
| $329.47 | +7.8% | |
| $305.58 | 0.0% | |
| $305.58 | +104.0% | |
| $149.77 | −90.8% | |
| $1,624 | 0.0% | |
| $1,624 | 0.0% | |
| $1,624 | 0.0% | |
| $1,624 | +54.2% | |
| $1,053 | +214.0% | |
| $335.48 | −68.0% | |
| $1,047 | +112.7% | |
| $492.21 | −53.2% | |
| $1,053 | −4.8% | |
| $1,105 | +140.2% | |
| $460.21 | −59.9% | |
| $1,147 | +13.2% | |
| $1,013 | +6.2% | |
| $954.34 | −10.9% | |
| $1,071 | +1.7% | |
| $1,053 | +13.3% | |
| $930.02 | −16.6% | |
| $1,115 | −8.8% | |
| $1,222 | +23.1% | |
| $992.16 | +9.6% | |
| $905.48 | −30.8% | |
| $1,309 | +1.6% | |
| $1,288 | +4.7% | |
| $1,230 | +7.7% | |
| $1,143 | +7.7% | |
| $1,061 | −25.0% | |
| $1,415 | +19.2% | |
| $1,187 | +0.4% | |
| $1,182 | +6.7% | |
| $1,107 | −20.3% | |
| $1,390 | −6.5% | |
| $1,486 | +24.6% | |
| $1,192 | −16.0% | |
| $1,420 | −0.9% | |
| $1,434 | +10.5% | |
| $1,298 | −8.4% | |
| $1,417 | +39.1% | |
| $1,019 | −24.4% | |
| $1,347 | −13.9% | |
| $1,565 | +6.2% | |
| $1,473 | +58.0% | |
| $932.52 | +24.2% | |
| $750.53 | −37.1% | |
| $1,194 | −30.9% | |
| $1,728 | +65.1% | |
| $1,046 | +3.0% | |
| $1,016 | +0.7% | |
| $1,009 | −17.4% | |
| $1,222 | +20.1% | |
| $1,017 | +62.5% | |
| $626.03 | −41.7% | |
| $1,074 | +3.4% | |
| $1,039 | +2.5% | |
| $1,013 | −0.9% | |
| $1,023 | +1.3% | |
| $1,010 | +15.9% | |
| $871.42 | −1.7% | |
| $886.12 | +1.9% | |
| $869.18 | −25.2% | |
| $1,161 | +40.5% | |
| $826.93 | −22.9% | |
| $1,072 | +5.5% | |
| $1,016 | −4.8% | |
| $1,067 | +9.3% | |
| $976.81 | −13.1% | |
| $1,124 | +13.9% | |
| $986.34 | −8.1% | |
| $1,073 | −13.4% | |
| $1,240 | +5.6% | |
| $1,174 | −22.1% | |
| $1,507 | +5.6% | |
| $1,427 | +3.1% | |
| $1,384 | −6.1% | |
| $1,475 | +6.9% | |
| $1,379 | −3.4% | |
| $1,428 | −7.4% | |
| $1,543 | +9.7% | |
| $1,406 | −19.9% | |
| $1,755 | +0.2% | |
| $1,752 | +2.4% | |
| $1,711 | +90.8% | |
| $897.19 | −50.5% | |
| $1,812 | +0.4% | |
| $1,804 | −4.1% | |
| $1,882 | +12.4% | |
| $1,674 | −6.0% | |
| $1,782 | +0.8% | |
| $1,768 | −6.1% | |
| $1,882 | +20.3% | |
| $1,564 | −15.1% | |
| $1,843 | +13.5% | |
| $1,625 | −6.8% | |
| $1,744 | +9.6% | |
| $1,591 | −4.2% | |
| $1,661 | +9.2% | |
| $1,521 | −8.1% | |
| $1,655 | +1.4% | |
| $1,633 | +9.1% | |
| $1,497 | −9.0% | |
| $1,645 | +4.9% | |
| $1,568 | −3.8% | |
| $1,631 | +20.1% | |
| $1,358 | −18.5% | |
| $1,665 | +4.5% | |
| $1,594 | −4.8% | |
| $1,675 | +44.2% | |
| $1,161 | −32.2% | |
| $1,712 | +56.1% | |
| $1,096 | −25.1% | |
| $1,464 | +8.0% | |
| $1,355 | +9.5% | |
| $1,237 | +3.0% | |
| $1,201 | −6.6% | |
| $1,285 | +22.5% | |
| $1,049 | −15.5% | |
| $1,241 | −6.2% | |
| $1,323 | +20.5% | |
| $1,098 | −25.1% | |
| $1,465 | −15.4% | |
| $1,733 | +13.7% | |
| $1,524 | +1.2% | |
| $1,506 | +9.0% | |
| $1,382 | −0.8% | |
| $1,393 | +2.0% | |
| $1,366 | −3.1% | |
| $1,410 | −2.1% | |
| $1,440 | +79.5% | |
| $802.26 | −29.4% | |
| $1,136 | +25.9% | |
| $901.99 | +7.8% | |
| $836.47 | −2.6% | |
| $859.11 | −3.6% | |
| $891.48 | +1.5% | |
| $877.94 | +18.0% | |
| $743.88 | −7.7% | |
| $805.75 | +22.3% | |
| $658.76 | +12.3% | |
| $586.49 | −7.1% | |
| $631.60 | −29.4% | |
| $894.37 | +0.7% | |
| $887.96 | - |
Summary
Germanium price summary
Over the past month the price has slipped 14.2%, and it is +109.1% over the year.
Its 12-month range runs from a low of $3,831 to a high of $7,302.
It is +109.1% over the past year.
Uses
What germanium is used for
Germanium (Ge) carries light and heat. It is doped into the core of optical fibre, it forms the lenses of infrared and thermal imaging systems used by militaries and border forces, and it is the substrate for the multi-junction solar cells that power satellites. Each of these uses has few practical substitutes, which is why germanium matters far beyond its tiny volume.
Other uses
- Silicon-germanium chips for high-frequency electronics
- Catalysts for PET plastic production
- Gamma-ray detectors for science and security
- LED and photodetector components
Market
Germanium supply and demand factors
Germanium is recovered from zinc smelting residues and coal fly ash, with China the dominant primary producer and recycling an important second source. Demand is concentrated in fibre optics, infrared optics for defence and satellite solar cells, all of which have few substitutes. China's export controls have pushed prices outside China sharply higher and prompted Western smelters to look again at recovery.
What moves the price
- Chinese export controls
- Zinc smelting rates and residue recovery
- Defence demand for infrared optics
- Satellite and fibre-optic investment
History
Germanium price history
Germanium followed the same path as gallium: export controls introduced by China in 2023 and a ban on shipments to the United States in late 2024 pushed prices outside China sharply higher. Before that, the market had been relatively stable, supported by fibre optics and infrared optics.
As of October 2026, the Stockatomics benchmark price is $4,861 per kg contained.
Production
Where germanium is produced
China produces most of the world's primary germanium, from zinc smelting residues and coal fly ash. Russia, Canada and Belgium are other sources, and recycling of manufacturing scrap supplies a significant share. The United States has limited domestic production.
Criticality
Why germanium is a critical mineral
Germanium is on the US critical minerals list and the EU critical raw materials list. Infrared optics, fibre optics and satellite solar cells are hard to supply without it, primary production is concentrated in China, and Chinese export controls have tightened supply for the West.
Benchmark
How the germanium benchmark price is calculated
Stockatomics publishes a monthly US benchmark price for germanium in US dollars per kg contained, reading as of October 2026. The price is for contained germanium metal, not for a finished infrared lens or for fibre. As with gallium, the US price reflects supply outside China, which can differ widely from Chinese domestic quotes.
Converting the price
- Germanium is usually quoted per kg already; per tonne, multiply by 1,000
Stockatomics Terminal
More germanium data in the Terminal
The Stockatomics Terminal has the full picture for germanium, for subscribers.
Full price history with all import series
The benchmark beside the all-imports and premium-priced import prices, with volumes.
Supply scores and constraints
Supply concentration, elasticity and the constraints behind them.
Companies and production exposure
Which listed companies produce it, and how much of their value depends on it.
FAQ
Germanium price FAQ
What is the price of germanium per kg today?
Germanium costs $4,861 per kg contained in the United States as of October 2026, on the Stockatomics monthly benchmark. Stockatomics updates it every month.
What is germanium used for?
Fibre optics, infrared and thermal imaging lenses, satellite solar cells and specialty chips.
Why have germanium prices risen?
China, the main producer, introduced export controls in 2023 and banned shipments to the US in 2024.
Can germanium be recycled?
Yes. Recycling of manufacturing scrap supplies a significant share of the market.
How is the germanium benchmark price calculated?
The Stockatomics benchmark for germanium is a monthly US price in US dollars per kg contained, published every month and current as of October 2026. How the benchmark is calculated.
Sources
Sources
- U.S. trade data: the monthly germanium price.
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): the US critical minerals list.
- Company filings: the listed companies and their roles.