Year-by-year annual average price for germanium in USD/kg, sourced from U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Germanium metal (99.99%), price spiked after China 2023 export controls.
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Germanium is critical for fiber optic communications, military infrared systems, and aerospace solar cells. China's 2023 export controls directly threaten Western defense and telecom supply chains. Demand is driven primarily by Fiber optic cable components, Infrared optics and thermal imaging, Satellite and concentrator solar cells. Supply is concentrated in China, Russia, Canada, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Germanium prices.
Germanium prices fell -16.7% from 2023's $1,200 per USD/kg to $1,000 per USD/kg in 2024.
Germanium prices rose +9.1% from 2022's $1,100 per USD/kg to $1,200 per USD/kg in 2023. That was the highest 2023 reading in 11 years.
Germanium prices rose +22.2% from 2021's $900 per USD/kg to $1,100 per USD/kg in 2022. That was the highest 2022 reading in 7 years.
Germanium prices rose +9.8% from 2020's $820 per USD/kg to $900 per USD/kg in 2021.
Germanium prices fell -5.7% from 2019's $870 per USD/kg to $820 per USD/kg in 2020. That was the lowest 2020 reading in 10 years.
Movement summaries above are calculated directly from the annual averages shown in the table. Critical Minerals HQ does not attribute price moves to specific events except where backed by sourced reporting.
| Year | Average Price (USD/kg) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,000 | -16.7% |
| 2023 | $1,200 | +9.1% |
| 2022 | $1,100 | +22.2% |
| 2021 | $900 | +9.8% |
| 2020 | $820 | -5.7% |
| 2019 | $870 | -13.0% |
| 2018 | $1,000 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | $1,000 | +5.3% |
| 2016 | $950 | -5.0% |
| 2015 | $1,000 | -9.1% |
| 2014 | $1,100 | +15.8% |
| 2013 | $950 | -9.5% |
| 2012 | $1,050 | -12.5% |
| 2011 | $1,200 | +14.3% |
| 2010 | $1,050 | +50.0% |
| 2009 | $700 | -17.6% |
| 2008 | $850 | -5.6% |
| 2007 | $900 | +5.9% |
| 2006 | $850 | +21.4% |
| 2005 | $700 | +16.7% |
| 2004 | $600 | +42.9% |
| 2003 | $420 | -6.7% |
| 2002 | $450 | -18.2% |
| 2001 | $550 | +10.0% |
| 2000 | $500 | — |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Germanium metal (99.99%), price spiked after China 2023 export controls
The most recent annual average we track is $1,000 per USD/kg for 2024. Live spot prices are shown on the Germanium live-price page.
down -16.7% — from $1,200 per USD/kg in 2023 to $1,000 per USD/kg in 2024.
up +14.9% — from $870 per USD/kg in 2019 to $1,000 per USD/kg in 2024.
down -9.1% — from $1,100 per USD/kg in 2014 to $1,000 per USD/kg in 2024.
Germanium is critical for fiber optic communications, military infrared systems, and aerospace solar cells. China's 2023 export controls directly threaten Western defense and telecom supply chains. Demand is driven primarily by Fiber optic cable components, Infrared optics and thermal imaging, Satellite and concentrator solar cells. Supply is concentrated in China, Russia, Canada, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Germanium prices.
The highest annual average germanium price in our recorded series was $1,200 per USD/kg in 2011.
U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Germanium metal (99.99%), price spiked after China 2023 export controls