Germanium and Gallium Supply-Chain Risks for the US and the Semiconductor Industry (Executive Edition Report)

Description

The electronic materials advisory firm providing business and technology information on semiconductor supply chains - has uncovered a significant supply chain risk for germanium and gallium for the global semiconductor market. Both germanium and gallium are critical metals essential to producing RF and sensor devices, 5G, IT communications, and automotive applications. China is the world's leading producer of refined germanium and gallium, which has increased risk for the US semiconductor supply chain. Global supply risks have been further amplified by recent announcements from China regarding export permit requirements for both metals, as explained in TECHCET's new Report on Germanium and Gallium Supply Chain Risks.

1. SCOPE

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3. GERMANIUM

3.1. GERMANIUM OVERVIEW-WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
3.2. GERMANIUM-WHAT KINDS OF SEMICONDUCTOR IS IT USED FOR?
3.3. GERMANIUM-WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
3.4. HOW IS IT MADE? FROM ORE TO END USE PRODUCT
- 3.4.1. Leading North American Sources of Germanium:
- 3.4.2. How is GeH4 made?
3.5. SUPPLIERS OF GE END USE PRODUCTS TO THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY
- 3.5.1. US GeH4 Producers
- 3.5.2. Germanium Sputter Targets and Substrates
- 3.5.3. Tracing the GeH4 Supply Chain
3.6. GERMANIUM US IMPORTS-ORIGINATING LOCATION AND MIX
3.7. GERMANIUM-BUILDING NEW US CAPACITY
3.8. GERMANIUM-WHO USES IT? SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE MANUFACTURERS
3.9. GERMANIUM RAW MATERIAL PRICE TRENDS

4. GALLIUM

4.1. GALLIUM OVERVIEW-WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
4.2. GALLIUM-WHAT KIND OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IS IT USED FOR?
4.3. GALLIUM WHERE DOES GALLIUM COME FROM?
4.4. HOW IS IT MADE? FROM ORE TO END USE PRODUCT
4.5. SUPPLIERS OF GA END USE PRODUCTS TO THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY
- 4.5.1. Tracking the Gallium Supply Chain
4.6. GALLIUM US IMPORTS-ORIGINATING LOCATION AND MIX
4.7. GALLIUM-BUILDING NEW US CAPACITY
4.8. GALLIUM-WHO USES IT? SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE MANUFACTURERS
4.9. GALLIUM RAW MATERIAL PRICE TRENDS

5. CHINA GA & GE TRADE RESTRICTIONS

6. GALLIUM AND GERMANIUM GEOPOLITICAL RISKS & ASSESSMENT

7. REFERENCES

FIGURES

FIGURE 1: GERMANIUM AND GALLIUM PRODUCTION BY REGION ESTIMATES
FIGURE 2: US GERMANIUM USE APPLICATIONS ESTIMATE (AS A PERCENT OF TOTAL WEIGHT) 2022
FIGURE 3: SILICON-GERMANIUM (SIGE) IS CRUCIAL IN 2 NM GAA-FET FABRICATION
FIGURE 4: 2021 GERMANIUM PRODUCTION ESTIMATES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL OUTPUT (TONS)
FIGURE 5: GEO2 AND GECL4 PRODUCTION FROM GE CONCENTRATE
FIGURE 6: AIR LIQUIDE (VOLTAIX) GERMANE PLANT IN BRANCHBURG, NJ (USA)
FIGURE 7: GERMANIUM ORE TO FINISHED PRODUCTS INTO THE US --SUPPLY CHAIN FLOW
FIGURE 8: GERMANIUM US IMPORTS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
FIGURE 9: SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE MANUFACTURERS USING SIGE TECHNOLOGY BY REGION (AS A PERCENT OF 200MM EQUIVALENT CAPACITY*)
FIGURE 10: GERMANIUM PRICE TRENDS 2018 TO 2023
FIGURE 11: GERMANIUM METAL SHANGHAI METAL MARKET FUTURES (PRICES PER KG)
FIGURE 12: CHINA WROUGHT AND UNWROUGHT GERMANIUM EXPORT FOR JAN-AUG 2023
FIGURE 13: WORLD GALLIUM PRODUCTION AS A PERCENT OF TOTAL VOLUME (METRIC TONS)
FIGURE 14: GALLIUM PRECURSOR SUPPLY CHAIN
FIGURE 15: EXAMPLE OF MOLECULAR BEAM EPITAXY SYSTEM
FIGURE 16: GALLIUM ORE TO FINISHED PRODUCTS INTO THE US --SUPPLY CHAIN FLOW
FIGURE 17: US GALLIUM IMPORTS SHOWING COUNTRY DEPENDENCY
FIGURE 18: : SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE & LED MANUFACTURERS USING GAAS/GAN/GAP BY REGION
FIGURE 19: GALLIUM METAL PRICE TRENDS 2018-2023
FIGURE 20: GALLIUM METAL SHANGHAI METAL MARKET FUTURES (PRICES PER KG)
FIGURE 21: CHINA WROUGHT AND UNWROUGHT GA EXPORTS 2023

TABLES

TABLE 1: ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND THEIR USE OF GERMANIUM
TABLE 2: GERMANIUM SEMICONDUCTOR VALUE CHAIN
TABLE 3: MOST POPULAR APPLICATIONS FOR GALLIUM SUBSTRATES INCLUDE GAAS AND GAN COMPOUND
TABLE 4: GA-CONTAINING SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESS MATERIALS SUPPLIERS AND LOCATIONS
TABLE 5: GALLIUM SEMICONDUCTOR VALUE CHAIN