Export curbs imposed on gallium and germanium

China will impose export restrictions on industrial products and materials containing gallium and germanium from August 1 to ensure its national security and interests, said the Ministry of Commerce in a notice on Monday.

According to the relevant provisions of China's Export Control Law, Foreign Trade Law and Customs Law, gallium, which is used in the production of semiconductors and optoelectronic devices, and germanium, an important raw material for the semiconductor industry, as well as their related products, cannot be exported without permission after July.

Export of other industrial materials such as gallium nitride, gallium oxide and zone-refined germanium ingot have also been prohibited.