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Gallium

Gallium is a soft, silvery metal classified as a critical mineral owing to its strategic importance in advanced technologies and limited global supply concentration. It is primarily produced as a by-product of aluminium and zinc refining, with bauxite processing yielding the majority of commercial gallium through the extraction of trace amounts from alumina. The metal has a low melting point of about 30 °C, allowing it to liquefy near room temperature, and exhibits unique properties that make it indispensable in semiconductor manufacturing and optoelectronics. Gallium arsenide and gallium nitride compounds are essential materials for high-frequency integrated circuits, light-emitting diodes, solar cells and power electronics used in telecommunications, defence systems and renewable energy infrastructure. Global production is heavily concentrated in China, which refines an estimated 80% to 90% of the world's gallium supply, raising concerns about supply chain security for technology-dependent economies. Demand has grown steadily as the transition to electric vehicles, 5G networks and energy-efficient lighting accelerates, while substitutes remain limited for most applications. Major aluminium-producing countries, including Guinea and Brazil, hold significant potential for gallium recovery from their bauxite resources, though commercial extraction outside China remains underdeveloped. The metal is not mined directly but recovered during the Bayer process, in which bauxite is refined into alumina, making gallium production closely tied to the aluminium industry. Strategic initiatives to diversify supply chains have prompted investment in gallium recovery projects in Australia, Europe and the Americas. Gallium's role in next-generation technologies ensures its continued classification as a critical material for industrial and national security planning.

Gallium News


Monte Muambe project area
NeoTerra’s interest in Monte Muambe increases to 70%
26th October 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

LSE-listed critical minerals exploration company NeoTerra Group has announced the completion of Phase 3 of a farm-out agreement for the Monte Muambe critical minerals project, in Mozambique, with... 


Mozambique map/flag
Monte Muambe rare earths, fluorspar and gallium project, Mozambique – update
2nd October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

NeoTerra Group has applied for a $5-million grant under the US-Africa Strategic Investment Program to assess a larger fluorspar operation. 


High-grade fluorspar ore from Monte Muambe
NeoTerra applies for $5m in funding to support potential expansion of Moz fluorspar mine
28th September 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

African critical minerals exploration and development company NeoTerra Group has applied for a $5-million grant under the US-Africa Strategic Investment Program to support the assessment of a... 


Novo Cruzeiro project
Canadian explorer Atlantico finds multiple rare earth, gallium targets in Brazil
21st September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Canadian critical minerals explorer Atlantico Energy Metals Corporation has identified overlapping rare earth indicators on the Novo Cruzeiro project, in Brazil, while also having found gallium in... 


Mikhail Nikomarov,
Opinion: Africa's biggest opportunity is not its minerals but the leverage they create
17th September 2026

In this opinion article, Mikhail Nikomarov, a partner and associate director at BCG Johannesburg, argues that African countries do not need to capture every stage of every value chain to benefit... 


Image of a drill rig at Monte Muambe
Monte Muambe rare earths, fluorspar and gallium project, Mozambique – update
4th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The prefeasibility study is scheduled to start in September 2026 with a site visit. 


Gallium sample
Lithium Universe successfully recovers gallium, platinum from e-waste
27th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Lithium Universe has demonstrated that its licensed tertiary diamide ligand technology can successfully extract and precipitate gallium and platinum from e-waste. Together with its... 


Bauxite ore in hand
Alurion plans first drilling, PFS on Amargosa bauxite project
27th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Alurion Resources has started with infill drilling and bulk sample trenching at the Amargosa bauxite/gallium project, in Brazil, marking the transition from established resource scale to... 


Government and corporate officials break ground at Alcoa's new gallium plant
Alcoa breaks ground at new gallium plant in Australia
24th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

NYSE- and ASX-listed Alcoa Corporation has broken ground at its gallium production plant, in Western Australia, with prominent government officials such as Australian Minister for Industry and... 


Monte Muambe
NeoTerra reports sizable delivery of gallium extraction from initial hydrometallurgy testing
13th August 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

LSE-listed NeoTerra says a gallium pre-concentration pathway has been identified through the use of X-ray transmission (XRT) technology at its Monte Muambe critical minerals project, in... 


METLEN plant in Greece
Greece's METLEN agrees to supply US company with gallium
29th July 2026 By: Reuters

Greek aluminum producer METLEN Energy & Metals said on Wednesday that it signed a long-term agreement to supply a US technology company with the critical mineral gallium. METLEN did not disclose... 


Bauxite in hand
Brazilian Rare Earths spinoff Alurion gets maximum A$50m subscription in IPO
22nd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Brazilian Rare Earths' spinoff company Alurion Resources has successfully raised A$50-million with its initial public offering (IPO) on the ASX. Demand for the IPO exceeded expectations,... 


Silicon Ridge PEA estimates $12.1-billion after-tax NPV
Silicon Ridge PEA estimates $12.1-billion after-tax NPV
16th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

US-based, vertically integrated producer of advanced materials and critical mineral solutions Ionic Mineral Technologies (Ionic MT) has announced the results of an independent preliminary economic... 


Gallium
Alcoa greenlights Australia gallium plant with US, Japan and domestic backing
15th July 2026 By: Reuters

Bauxite and aluminium producer Alcoa Corporation said on Tuesday it has reached a final investment decision to set up a gallium plant at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, with... 


Critical mineral symbols
Australia's export finance agency boosts jobs by 21% amid critical minerals push
15th July 2026 By: Reuters

Export Finance Australia (EFA) added 40 staff in the financial year to June, as the government-backed agency builds up critical minerals expertise to deliver an A$1.2-billion ($840-million)... 


Drill core from the Monet Muambe project
Monte Muambe rare earths, fluorspar and gallium project, Mozambique – update
10th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

NeoTerra has reported metallurgical breakthroughs, which have significantly derisked the development of the project’s multicommodity flowsheet. 


Teck Resources' Trail Operations in British Columbia
Teck to receive up to $400m Canadian investment for germanium, gallium, antimony scale-up
8th July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX- and NYSE-listed Teck Resources, Natural Resources Canada and Canada Growth Fund (CGF) have signed a strategic investment agreement to support expanding production capacity for germanium,... 


An image of Monte Muambe
NeoTerra highlights metallurgical gains at Mozambique project
7th July 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

London-listed NeoTerra says metallurgical breakthroughs at its Monte Muambe project, in Mozambique, have significantly de-risked development of the project’s multi-commodity flowsheet, confirming a... 


Gallium
MRG Metals confirms high levels of gallium in South Africa for byproduct production
2nd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed MRG Metals has confirmed significant levels of gallium returned from analytical results as the company works to define its Garies project resource, in South Africa's Northern Cape... 


Gold pour at Red Lake in Canada
Canada, Japan consider critical minerals joint stockpiling in hunt for China alternatives
26th June 2026 By: Reuters

Canada and Japan are working on a range of mining projects, including potential joint stockpiling, Canada's Trade Minister told Reuters, as Japan moves to diversify supplies of critical minerals... 


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