Metlen to Begin Gallium Production in Third Quarter 2027
The company aims to produce 50 tonnes of gallium annually to offset global supply concentration and rising market prices.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Materials Science
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Metlen has announced plans to reach 50 tonnes of annual gallium production by the third quarter of 2027. This development aims to diversify supply chains currently dominated by Chinese output.
Why it matters
The shift responds to a sharp increase in gallium prices, which have climbed from $500 to $3,500 per kilogram, driving firms to secure alternative material sources for industrial and semiconductor needs.
Metlen plans to produce 50 tonnes of gallium annually by Q3 2027 by leveraging its existing alumina production base to recover the metal. This capability is scaled alongside a targeted 1.3 million tonne annual alumina output.
The players
Metlen
An industrial concern specializing in aluminum production that is expanding into critical materials recovery.
The details
The firm recovers gallium directly from its existing alumina—the refined aluminum oxide used as a precursor to aluminum—production flow. By integrating this extraction into established industrial pipelines, the company aims to hedge against global supply volatility. To manage the operational risks associated with such energy-intensive processes, Metlen has also instituted internal energy risk hedging strategies.
Timeline
Commercial gallium production is scheduled to begin in Q3 2027.
The Tech Race
The move to internalize gallium recovery follows a sustained period of market volatility where prices surged sevenfold. It positions the firm to compete directly with existing supply chains that currently rely on China for the vast majority of global gallium.
Industrial buyers reliant on semiconductor-grade gallium may see more stable pricing as output increases by 2027. Future efforts by the company to explore scandium and germanium recovery could further expand the range of critical materials available to downstream manufacturers.
The takeaway
The firm is also investigating the feasibility of recovering germanium and scandium as part of its long-term material strategy. Industry observers should watch for the mid-2027 production ramp to see if yield targets are met at the announced scale.
Further reading
Explore the latest developments in industrial resource extraction within our Materials Science section.
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