China Germanium Industry Report, 2011-2012

America has the world’s richest germanium ore resource, but its germanium output has long been showing a small scale. By contrast, China is the largest germanium producer and exporter around the globe. In 2011, the reserves of germanium ore resources in America and China accounted for 45% and 41%, respectively, while their output of germanium (metal tons) made up 2.9% and 65.5% worldwide.

When it comes to China’s germanium industry, China has launched a series of favorable polices to shore up the development of high-end germanium products. For instance, China levies 5% tariff on the export of germanium dioxide products; deep-processing germanium products such as monocrystalline germanium slices and germanium optical components can enjoy preferential export tax rebate by 17% and 15%. Under such policy climate, industrial tycoons including Yunnan Lincang Xinyuan Germanium Industry, Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium and China Germanium developed new capacity projects centering on germanium deep-processing products.

Yunnan Lincang Xinyuan Germanium Industry is the only listed company that specializes in germanium products. It has the most complete germanium industry chain with the largest recoverable deposits of germanium metal. In 2011, the ongoing projects of the company concentrated in germanium deep-processing products consisting of solar cell monocrystalline germanium slice, optical fiber germanium tetrachloride, infrared germanium optical lens, etc.

CNGC Night-Vision Science & Technology Group bears distinct competitive advantages in military and civil infrared product fields. As of 2010, the company realized the annual capacity of 20 tons of infrared optical germanium monocrystals and 100,000 sets of infrared optical components.

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