The Real Critical Mineral Isn't Gallium. It's Processing Know-How

Highlights

• Gallium and germanium underpin semiconductors, radar, AI infrastructure, and advanced defense systems, yet rarely dominate critical minerals discussions.
• China controls roughly 80% of refined gallium production by investing decades in refining and purification technology, not just mining.
• India holds bauxite and zinc refining assets, but lacks commercial-scale recovery and semiconductor-grade purification capabilities.
• China's expanding export controls now cover processing technology and equipment, making late entry into refining increasingly difficult.
• The strategic lesson for India, Europe, and the U.S. is clear: critical mineral power comes from mastering refining and processing, not just securing feedstock.

Gallium and germanium may not capture headlines like lithium or rare earths, but they underpin semiconductors, radar, fiber optics, AI infrastructure, and advanced defense systems. A new opinion piece argues India should capitalize on its aluminum and zinc industries to build domestic refining capacity. Rare Earth Exchanges® agrees with the diagnosis but reaches a broader conclusion: the strategic prize is not mining—it is ultra-high-purity processing. That lesson extends well beyond India.

The New Gold Isn't Rare Earths—It's the Refining Plant

Gallium and germanium rarely dominate critical minerals discussions, yet they sit at the heart of AI chips, 5G infrastructure, infrared optics, military electronics, and satellite systems. Writing in The Telegraph India (opens in a new tab), researchers from the National Council of Applied Economic Research (opens in a new tab) (NCAER) argue India has an opportunity to transform industrial by-products from aluminum and zinc production into strategic semiconductor materials.

The Real Chokepoint Isn't the Mine

The article correctly identifies the industry's central reality: geology is not the primary constraint. China dominates because it invested for decades in refining, purification, and processing—not simply mining. Industry estimates generally place China at roughly 80% of refined gallium production, while it also remains one of the world's leading germanium processors.

The authors rightly note India possesses abundant bauxite, significant aluminum production, and zinc refining capacity. The missing link is commercial-scale recovery, ultra-high-purity refining, and zone-refining technology needed for semiconductor-grade materials.

Where the Analysis Stops Short

The opinion piece correctly emphasizes metallurgy but largely overlooks how difficult commercialization actually is. Building solvent extraction circuits, chlorination-distillation systems, and semiconductor-grade purification plants requires years of engineering, customer qualification, and process know-how. Capital alone rarely closes that gap.

It also omits the geopolitical reality: China's export controls increasingly extend beyond raw materials into processing technology and manufacturing equipment, making late entry even more difficult.

REEx Reality Check

The broader lesson applies equally to India, Europe, and the United States. Countries do not become critical mineral powers simply because they possess feedstock, although certain feedstock has become incredibly hard to obtain nowadays. They become competitive by mastering refining, purification, workforce development, and industrial scale. Investors should watch not only where governments fund mines—but where they build processing plants.

Source: The Telegraph (India), "Go After the New Gold: Why Gallium and Germanium Will Define Future Economic Competitiveness," July 15, 2026.