# Germanium Price per kg (United States)

Germanium costs $4,861 per kg contained in the United States as of October 2026, on the Stockatomics monthly benchmark. Germanium has fallen 14.2% in the past month.

Source: https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/germanium-price-us
Category: Critical Minerals (https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/critical-minerals)
Lists: US Critical Minerals List, EU Critical Raw Materials Act

## Key figures

| Figure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price per kg contained | $4,861 |
| Price type | Stockatomics monthly benchmark |
| Price month | October 2026 |
| 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 |
| Last updated | 18 October 2026 |

## 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.

## Germanium monthly prices

USD per kg contained, newest first.

| Month | Price | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| October 2026 | $4,861 | 0.0% |
| September 2026 | $4,861 | 0.0% |
| August 2026 | $4,861 | −14.2% |
| July 2026 | $5,663 | −1.5% |
| June 2026 | $5,749 | +6.6% |
| May 2026 | $5,391 | +5.3% |
| April 2026 | $5,119 | −6.0% |
| March 2026 | $5,446 | +8.1% |
| February 2026 | $5,036 | −31.0% |
| January 2026 | $7,302 | +72.9% |
| December 2025 | $4,222 | +10.2% |
| November 2025 | $3,831 | −14.0% |
| October 2025 | $4,456 | +27.5% |
| September 2025 | $3,496 | +50.4% |
| August 2025 | $2,324 | −36.3% |
| July 2025 | $3,647 | −2.9% |
| June 2025 | $3,754 | +200.6% |
| May 2025 | $1,249 | 0.0% |
| April 2025 | $1,249 | −55.9% |
| March 2025 | $2,834 | +8.7% |
| February 2025 | $2,609 | −7.0% |
| January 2025 | $2,806 | +12.6% |
| December 2024 | $2,493 | −4.5% |
| November 2024 | $2,611 | −5.6% |
| October 2024 | $2,767 | +13.4% |
| September 2024 | $2,439 | +13.8% |
| August 2024 | $2,143 | +15.6% |
| July 2024 | $1,853 | +2.8% |
| June 2024 | $1,802 | +1.7% |
| May 2024 | $1,772 | +8.6% |
| April 2024 | $1,632 | −1.4% |
| March 2024 | $1,656 | +11.3% |
| February 2024 | $1,487 | −2.8% |
| January 2024 | $1,529 | −17.8% |
| December 2023 | $1,861 | 0.0% |
| November 2023 | $1,861 | +12.7% |
| October 2023 | $1,651 | +3.1% |
| September 2023 | $1,601 | +11.5% |
| August 2023 | $1,436 | +9.0% |
| July 2023 | $1,318 | +0.4% |
| June 2023 | $1,313 | −13.0% |
| May 2023 | $1,510 | +7.3% |
| April 2023 | $1,407 | +7.0% |
| March 2023 | $1,315 | +14.2% |
| February 2023 | $1,151 | +2.7% |
| January 2023 | $1,121 | +0.1% |
| December 2022 | $1,119 | −14.7% |
| November 2022 | $1,312 | +1.7% |
| October 2022 | $1,290 | +14.1% |
| September 2022 | $1,130 | −20.0% |
| August 2022 | $1,413 | +3.6% |
| July 2022 | $1,364 | +664.5% |
| June 2022 | $178.40 | 0.0% |
| May 2022 | $178.40 | 0.0% |
| April 2022 | $178.40 | −45.8% |
| March 2022 | $328.89 | 0.0% |
| February 2022 | $328.89 | −0.2% |
| January 2022 | $329.47 | +7.8% |
| December 2021 | $305.58 | 0.0% |
| November 2021 | $305.58 | +104.0% |
| October 2021 | $149.77 | −90.8% |
| September 2021 | $1,624 | 0.0% |
| August 2021 | $1,624 | 0.0% |
| July 2021 | $1,624 | 0.0% |
| June 2021 | $1,624 | +54.2% |
| May 2021 | $1,053 | +214.0% |
| April 2021 | $335.48 | −68.0% |
| March 2021 | $1,047 | +112.7% |
| February 2021 | $492.21 | −53.2% |
| January 2021 | $1,053 | −4.8% |
| December 2020 | $1,105 | +140.2% |
| November 2020 | $460.21 | −59.9% |
| October 2020 | $1,147 | +13.2% |
| September 2020 | $1,013 | +6.2% |
| August 2020 | $954.34 | −10.9% |
| July 2020 | $1,071 | +1.7% |
| June 2020 | $1,053 | +13.3% |
| May 2020 | $930.02 | −16.6% |
| April 2020 | $1,115 | −8.8% |
| March 2020 | $1,222 | +23.1% |
| February 2020 | $992.16 | +9.6% |
| January 2020 | $905.48 | −30.8% |
| December 2019 | $1,309 | +1.6% |
| November 2019 | $1,288 | +4.7% |
| October 2019 | $1,230 | +7.7% |
| September 2019 | $1,143 | +7.7% |
| August 2019 | $1,061 | −25.0% |
| July 2019 | $1,415 | +19.2% |
| June 2019 | $1,187 | +0.4% |
| May 2019 | $1,182 | +6.7% |
| April 2019 | $1,107 | −20.3% |
| March 2019 | $1,390 | −6.5% |
| February 2019 | $1,486 | +24.6% |
| January 2019 | $1,192 | −16.0% |
| December 2018 | $1,420 | −0.9% |
| November 2018 | $1,434 | +10.5% |
| October 2018 | $1,298 | −8.4% |
| September 2018 | $1,417 | +39.1% |
| August 2018 | $1,019 | −24.4% |
| July 2018 | $1,347 | −13.9% |
| June 2018 | $1,565 | +6.2% |
| May 2018 | $1,473 | +58.0% |
| April 2018 | $932.52 | +24.2% |
| March 2018 | $750.53 | −37.1% |
| February 2018 | $1,194 | −30.9% |
| January 2018 | $1,728 | +65.1% |
| December 2017 | $1,046 | +3.0% |
| November 2017 | $1,016 | +0.7% |
| October 2017 | $1,009 | −17.4% |
| September 2017 | $1,222 | +20.1% |
| August 2017 | $1,017 | +62.5% |
| July 2017 | $626.03 | −41.7% |
| June 2017 | $1,074 | +3.4% |
| May 2017 | $1,039 | +2.5% |
| April 2017 | $1,013 | −0.9% |
| March 2017 | $1,023 | +1.3% |
| February 2017 | $1,010 | +15.9% |
| January 2017 | $871.42 | −1.7% |
| December 2016 | $886.12 | +1.9% |
| November 2016 | $869.18 | −25.2% |
| October 2016 | $1,161 | +40.5% |
| September 2016 | $826.93 | −22.9% |
| August 2016 | $1,072 | +5.5% |
| July 2016 | $1,016 | −4.8% |
| June 2016 | $1,067 | +9.3% |
| May 2016 | $976.81 | −13.1% |
| April 2016 | $1,124 | +13.9% |
| March 2016 | $986.34 | −8.1% |
| February 2016 | $1,073 | −13.4% |
| January 2016 | $1,240 | +5.6% |
| December 2015 | $1,174 | −22.1% |
| November 2015 | $1,507 | +5.6% |
| October 2015 | $1,427 | +3.1% |
| September 2015 | $1,384 | −6.1% |
| August 2015 | $1,475 | +6.9% |
| July 2015 | $1,379 | −3.4% |
| June 2015 | $1,428 | −7.4% |
| May 2015 | $1,543 | +9.7% |
| April 2015 | $1,406 | −19.9% |
| March 2015 | $1,755 | +0.2% |
| February 2015 | $1,752 | +2.4% |
| January 2015 | $1,711 | +90.8% |
| December 2014 | $897.19 | −50.5% |
| November 2014 | $1,812 | +0.4% |
| October 2014 | $1,804 | −4.1% |
| September 2014 | $1,882 | +12.4% |
| August 2014 | $1,674 | −6.0% |
| July 2014 | $1,782 | +0.8% |
| June 2014 | $1,768 | −6.1% |
| May 2014 | $1,882 | +20.3% |
| April 2014 | $1,564 | −15.1% |
| March 2014 | $1,843 | +13.5% |
| February 2014 | $1,625 | −6.8% |
| January 2014 | $1,744 | +9.6% |
| December 2013 | $1,591 | −4.2% |
| November 2013 | $1,661 | +9.2% |
| October 2013 | $1,521 | −8.1% |
| September 2013 | $1,655 | +1.4% |
| August 2013 | $1,633 | +9.1% |
| July 2013 | $1,497 | −9.0% |
| June 2013 | $1,645 | +4.9% |
| May 2013 | $1,568 | −3.8% |
| April 2013 | $1,631 | +20.1% |
| March 2013 | $1,358 | −18.5% |
| February 2013 | $1,665 | +4.5% |
| January 2013 | $1,594 | −4.8% |
| December 2012 | $1,675 | +44.2% |
| November 2012 | $1,161 | −32.2% |
| October 2012 | $1,712 | +56.1% |
| September 2012 | $1,096 | −25.1% |
| August 2012 | $1,464 | +8.0% |
| July 2012 | $1,355 | +9.5% |
| June 2012 | $1,237 | +3.0% |
| May 2012 | $1,201 | −6.6% |
| April 2012 | $1,285 | +22.5% |
| March 2012 | $1,049 | −15.5% |
| February 2012 | $1,241 | −6.2% |
| January 2012 | $1,323 | +20.5% |
| December 2011 | $1,098 | −25.1% |
| November 2011 | $1,465 | −15.4% |
| October 2011 | $1,733 | +13.7% |
| September 2011 | $1,524 | +1.2% |
| August 2011 | $1,506 | +9.0% |
| July 2011 | $1,382 | −0.8% |
| June 2011 | $1,393 | +2.0% |
| May 2011 | $1,366 | −3.1% |
| April 2011 | $1,410 | −2.1% |
| March 2011 | $1,440 | +79.5% |
| February 2011 | $802.26 | −29.4% |
| January 2011 | $1,136 | +25.9% |
| December 2010 | $901.99 | +7.8% |
| November 2010 | $836.47 | −2.6% |
| October 2010 | $859.11 | −3.6% |
| September 2010 | $891.48 | +1.5% |
| August 2010 | $877.94 | +18.0% |
| July 2010 | $743.88 | −7.7% |
| June 2010 | $805.75 | +22.3% |
| May 2010 | $658.76 | +12.3% |
| April 2010 | $586.49 | −7.1% |
| March 2010 | $631.60 | −29.4% |
| February 2010 | $894.37 | +0.7% |
| January 2010 | $887.96 | - |

## 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

## 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

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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

## 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.

## Related commodities

- [Lithium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/lithium-price-us): $89.62 per kg contained
- [Copper price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/copper-price-us): $13.92 per kg contained
- [Cobalt price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/cobalt-price-us): $56.81 per kg contained
- [Nickel price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/nickel-price-us): $17.24 per kg contained
- [Graphite price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/graphite-price-us): $1.17 per kg graphite
- [Gallium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/gallium-price-us): $1,530 per kg contained

## 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.

Last updated 18 October 2026.