Global Germanium Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Form (Germanium Metal, Germanium Oxides And Dioxides), By Application (Catalyst, Consumer Electronics, Solar Panels, Others), By Industry Vertical (Chemical, Aerospace, Electronics, Energy, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

The global germanium market was valued at US$169.129 million in 2021.

Germanium is a metalloid element contained in minerals such as germanite, sphalerite, argyrodite, and others. Germanium metals, oxides, and dioxides are employed to produce catalysts, consumer electronics, solar panels, and other products intended to be used across the chemical, aerospace, energy, and electronics sector. Germanium is commercially extracted from the dust present in zinc ore smelters and processing units. Electronics and solar applications, fiber optics, infrared optics, polymerization catalysts, and additional uses like chemotherapy, metallurgy, and phosphors are the dominant international industrial applications for germanium. In the medical and pharmaceutical fields, major companies are conducting clinical trials and research studies to investigate the effectiveness of germanium as a treatment for different types of cancer. Further, germanium is gaining momentum in the organic chemistry field due to the low toxicity levels and chemotherapeutic properties associated with germanium compounds. Therefore, the expansion of the application of germanium across different fields is anticipated to stimulate the development of the germanium market over the forecast period.

Market Drivers

• The advancements in solar technology

The rise in research and development projects conducted to improve solar technologies is encouraging the consumption of germanium in the manufacture of solar panels. Germanium has been employed in multi-junction cells, which have stacked photovoltaic junctions and enable more effective solar light absorption. The fundamental benefit of employing Germanium is that Germanium’s lattice constant, or the distance between atoms in the crystal, exactly matches that of gallium compounds making it the perfect substrate for the growth of relatively low-cost multi-junction cells. In comparison with gallium compound or silicon photovoltaic cell alone, a dual junction cell made by integrating gallium compound and germanium can absorb around 20% more energy. In January 2021, the German Aerospace Center announced the manufacture of amorphous germanium photovoltaic cells with the ability to capture light in slim absorbers to be used in greenhouses and agrivoltaics. In addition, Umicore Company announced in August 2021 that it will be supplying multi-junction photovoltaic cells manufactured using germanium substrates to assist in providing power to International Space Stations (ISS) till 2030. Therefore, the developments in solar technology and photovoltaic cells made using germanium materials are expected to encourage the growth of the germanium market.

• Extensive application in the semiconductor industry

The semiconductor and electronics industries are the two most prominent sectors which extensively use germanium for manufacturing different components such as wafers and transistors to be for numerous purposes. Germanium wafers are most significantly used to produce infrared optical components. Germanium is suitable for creating infrared detectors and lenses due to its unique capacity to both absorb and emit infrared light. These parts are used in infrared astronomy, thermal imaging cameras, and night-vision goggles. The production of high-speed transistors is another significant use for germanium wafers. Germanium is a great material for high-speed transistors due to its strong electron mobility to be used in radar systems, communication systems, and computer processors. Apart from this, companies are considering the use of germanium in different types of components manufactured as semiconductors. For instance, the Vienna University of Technology in November 2022 conducted a study that proved the effectiveness of semiconductors made from germanium-silicon have the ability to improve the speed and efficiency of computer chips. Therefore, the expansion of the semiconductor industry and the developments in semiconductor materials fueled by research studies are anticipated to drive the demand for the germanium market over the forecast period.

The simultaneous developments in silicon materials used in solar technology could restrict the growth of the germanium market.

Leading solar technology companies are simultaneously investing in developing innovative solar panels and cells using silicon substrates. The development of flexible solar cells stimulates the increasing substitution of germanium substrates with silicon materials in solar panels. For instance, in March 2023, scientists at Swansea University conducting research in solar technology at the SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre announced the development of perovskite photovoltaics that can be fully manufactured using roll-to-roll coating and printing utilizing slot die materials. The development of flexible and hybrid photovoltaic cells uses thin silicon wafers and materials which could restrict the widespread use of germanium in the production of solar panels and cells.

Key Developments

• In January 2023, the subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation, China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation announced the successful manufacture and delivery of germanium isotopes to Tsinghua University for conducting research in nuclear astrophysics fields and dark matter.

North America contributes majorly to the international germanium market and is expected to remain steady over the forecast period.

The North American germanium market is promoted by the increasing consumption of germanium in the US. The US Geological Survey revealed that in 2021 the US import consumption of germanium metal amounted to 13,000 kgs while the consumption of germanium dioxide amounted to 17,000 kgs. The germanium dioxide consumption increased from 12,000 kgs in 2020 to 17,000 kgs in 2021. In addition, it was established that the Gateway space station of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the US will be supported using germanium-based solar technology. In addition, a German-based developer of multi-junction germanium solar cells for aerospace and terrestrial applications was purchased by a Utah-based manufacturer of high-purity metals and chemicals in 2021. It was revealed that a new generation of solar arrays employing germanium substrates was created for the ISS to replace the current silicon-based solar arrays by an advanced materials manufacturer with a germanium production plant in Oklahoma. Therefore, the rising consumption of germanium fueled by the recent developments in the US germanium market is anticipated to stimulate the growth of the North American germanium market over the forecast period.

Global Germanium Market Scope:

Key Market Segments:

• By Form
  • Germanium metal
  • Germanium oxides and dioxides
• By Application
  • Catalyst
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Solar Panels
  • Others
• By Industry Vertical
  • Chemical
  • Aerospace
  • Electronics
  • Energy
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Others
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • France
    • Others
  • The Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Taiwan
    • Others