Germanium is a solid, lustrous, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon group. The element does not occur in nature in its pure state given its high reactivity. The melting point of germanium is just above 938C and the boiling point is 2833C.
Germanium possesses semiconductor qualities, thus, it is extensively utilized in the electronics industry mainly in the production of semiconductors and transistors. Infrared and fiber optics are also very important germanium end-use sectors, together consuming around 50% of the overall product output annually. The metalloid also acts as a catalyst in the process of polymers manufacturing. It also has some niche applications, for instance, it is used in chemotherapy for treating some types of cancer.
In 2012, the worldwide production of germanium registered 8.5% y-o-y growth and went beyond 127 tonnes. In the same year, China, France and Germany were the top three countries in terms of germanium output volume; their combined share of the world production is equal to almost 88%.
Germanium: world mine production structure, by country, 2012
Teck Alaska Inc., SIG Mines France, Sindlhauser Materials GmbH, PPM Pure Metals GmbH, Dernoo Germanium Co., Ltd and Yunnan Chihong Zn & Ge Co., Ltd are among the leading companies operating in the global germanium market.
The production volume of the dominant country, China, grew by over 12% in 2012 and reached 90 tonnes. The exports of germanium prevail over imports in the country. Japan, the UK, the USA, Austria and Germany are amid the major importers of Chinese germanium.
The global germanium market is poised to experience stable growth in the upcoming years, driven mainly by the increasing demand for the product in the key end-use sectors. The world germanium output is expected to climb to 135 tonnes by 2014.
More information on the germanium market can be found in the report Germanium Market Review.