A raw material that was first discovered in Germany, but is now mostly delivered from China.
China’s announced export controls have brought a chemical element into focus that sounds surprisingly familiar and yet quite alien: germanium. It was first found in Germany – hence the name. The silver-white semiconductor is found in the earth’s crust worldwide, but in low concentrations. It is mainly obtained as a by-product in the aluminum and zinc industry and in coal-fired power plants. Germanium is found in many devices that are central to Germany’s energy transition and era, such as solar cells, night vision devices and infrared cameras. It is also contained in fiber optic cables. Therefore, the element is classified by the EU as a “critical raw material”, which is particularly important for the economic future. About 60 percent of germanium worldwide comes from China. Its dominance is mainly due to the fact that no other country can match the production costs. That is why more and more countries have opted out. In addition to germanium, China also wants to make the export of gallium subject to approval. The element discovered by a French chemist is central to the manufacture of many chips, around 80 percent of which currently comes from China.