Faraday rotator supplier GRANGPT issued a statement on production cuts. The core upstream raw material for Faraday rotators is SGGG (Substituted Gadolinium Gallium Garnet), which is made from bismuth-substituted rare-earth garnet using the liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) method. Nearly all of the rare earths used by GRANOPT’s substrate supplier, SMM Precision, relied on supply from China, and the time consumed in the current acceptance process by China’s Ministry of Commerce has far exceeded expectations, so the company will gradually reduce Faraday rotator production starting in January 2026.

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan recently announced the successful development of a copper gallium selenide (CuGaSe₂) solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 12.28%, setting a world record for indium-free wide-bandgap chalcogenide solar cells in the same frequency band. The research team enhanced the open-circuit voltage and cell performance by incorporating aluminum to form a back-surface field and optimizing the buffer layer. This achievement provides a new approach for the development of high-efficiency tandem solar cells.

Gallium, denoted by the chemical symbol Ga, is a fascinating element with unique physical and chemical properties. This silvery-blue metal is known for its unusually low melting point of 29.76 °C (85.57 °F), which allows it to become liquid at just above room temperature. Unlike many other metals, gallium does not occur in a free form in nature; instead, it is extracted from bauxite and zinc ores. Chemically, gallium is less reactive than aluminum and indium, and it can form a protective oxide layer on its surface when exposed to air, which makes it relatively stable.

On Wednesday (May 7) local time, mining giant Rio Tinto announced that it had successfully extracted primary gallium metal for the first time in collaboration with US-based Indium Corporation, with both parties working towards the commercial production of this critical rare metal in the future. Rio Tinto stated that the initial extraction of gallium was carried out at Indium's R&D facility in New York, and the next phase will involve evaluating technologies capable of producing larger quantities of gallium on a pilot scale. If Rio Tinto successfully achieves commercial-scale production of gallium at its refinery in Quebec, Canada, the estimated annual production capacity is expected to reach 40 mt, accounting for approximately 5% to 10% of the current global total production. "Rio Tinto and Indium Corporation are committed to enhancing the resilience of the North American gallium metal supply chain," said Jérôme Pécresse, CEO of Rio Tinto Aluminium, in a statement. Gallium is a rare metal widely used in the manufacturing of semiconductors, smartphones, and EVs. In December last year, China announced a ban on the export of critical metals, including gallium, to the US, in response to the US's chip control measures against China. China is the world's largest producer of antimony, germanium, and gallium, with these rare metals playing a crucial role in clean energy, chip manufacturing, and defense, among other sectors. Gallium, germanium, and antimony are all among the 50 critical minerals identified by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Data shows that from 2019 to 2022, the US imported nearly all of its gallium and about half of its germanium. China was one of the primary sources of these minerals for the US. In December last year, Rio Tinto announced that it was considering gallium production in Canada and planned to build a demonstration plant with an annual production capacity of 3.5 mt. The Quebec provincial government pledged to provide CAD 7 million (approximately USD 4.9 million) in funding support for this demonstration plant. According to Rio Tinto, these gallium products will be derived from bauxite processed at its alumina refinery in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.

【Rio Tinto and US Company Collaborate to Successfully Extract Primary Gallium for First Time, Plan to Advance Commercial Production】① Rio Tinto announced that, in collaboration with US-based Indium Corporation, it has successfully extracted primary gallium metal for the first time, with both parties committed to achieving commercial production of this critical rare metal in the future; ② If Rio Tinto successfully achieves commercial-scale gallium production at its refinery in Quebec, Canada, it is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 40 mt, equivalent to approximately 5% to 10% of the current global total production. (Financial Associated Press)

47 Strategic Raw Material Projects Just Announced! EU Official Takes Action: First, Gallium... After the EU unveiled a highly anticipated list of 47 strategic raw material projects this week, a senior EU official overseeing the strategy visited a strategic metal base in central Greece on Thursday. It is reported that Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice President of the European Commission responsible for industrial strategy, visited an aluminum plant that is expected to start gallium extraction operations that day. (Cailian Press)