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Critical-Mineral Restrictions Reveal Hidden Risk
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Fusion42 · 16 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
China controls 99% of global primary gallium production and has resumed export controls on the critical mineral, which is essential for compound semiconductors used in radar, 5G, military electronics, EV charging and medical imaging. Supply-chain analysis reveals that semiconductor-dependent companies across multiple sectors face hidden China dependency at indirect supplier tiers that conventional monitoring misses, with gallium dependency extending even further upstream through alumina refining.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Semiconductors and Supply Chain.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you make 5G, EV chargers, radar or power electronics, your supply chain just broke in a way you can't see from your direct suppliers. China controls the gallium you need through alumina refining capacity, and export controls mean your next component order hits a wall your procurement team doesn't know exists yet.
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1 source · 16 Jul 2026
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