Dowa Electronics Materials Hikes High Purity Gallium

Dowa Electronics Materials increases the selling price of gallium with 99.9999% purity for April shipment to cover higher raw material price when the material of gallium with 99.99% spot international price surges. The firm already noticed to the users of compound semiconductor makers. International spot price of gallium with 99.99% increased by around 30% to US$ 400-450 per kilogram in early March from US$ 300-350 in the end of 2006, according to Reuters. The market expects higher price under limited export from China though the price decreased to US$ 380-430 on March 9. Dowa group produces gallium with indium from residue of zinc making at Akita Zinc. Dowa group refines high purity gallium from purchased gallium with 99.99% purity along with the recycling materials. High purity gallium is used for light emitting diode, laser diode and compound semiconductor with gallium arsenide and gallium phosphorus. The demand increases for gallium arsenide wafer as electronics device under expanding market for third generation cell phone. The demand is also firm for light emitting diode under growing construction demand in China. World gallium supply is estimated to be 100 tonnes in 2006. The supply was 20 tonnes short for the 120 tonnes of demand. The supply short structure continues when the major supply source is by-product of aluminium smelting. China, which represents more than 50% of world supply, is expected to keep limited when the country controls the export severely.