METLEN signs first major US gallium supply deal, strengthening Europe's aluminium value chain

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Europe's efforts to reduce its dependence on imported critical minerals gathered momentum after METLEN Energy & Metals signed a long-term agreement to supply a leading US technology company with approximately 25 per cent of the annual gallium output expected from its planned production facility in Greece.

The agreement also highlights the growing strategic importance of Europe's aluminium value chain. Gallium is commercially recovered during alumina refining from bauxite rather than mined directly, making integrated aluminium operations central to global gallium supply.

According to METLEN, the agreement is the first major commercial gallium supply deal between a European producer and a US technology company.

Europe looks beyond China for gallium

The deal comes as European countries accelerate efforts to build more resilient and diversified supply chains for critical raw materials, particularly gallium, whose global production remains heavily concentrated. According to Eurostat, China accounted for 77 per cent of the EU's gallium imports in 2025, while Canada and the United States supplied 11 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively.

Widely used in smartphones, satellites, radar systems, LEDs, photovoltaics, artificial intelligence hardware, renewable energy infrastructure, telecommunications equipment and defence applications, gallium has become an increasingly strategic material as governments seek to secure reliable supplies for advanced technologies.

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Integrated project links bauxite, alumina and gallium

METLEN's planned gallium facility has been designated a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act as part of an integrated investment covering bauxite mining, alumina production and gallium recovery. The project is designed to produce 50 tonnes of gallium annually and was among 47 projects selected by the European Commission in 2025 from 170 applications across 13 EU Member States.

The investment has also secured financing from the European Investment Bank under the REPowerEU framework, reflecting its strategic importance in diversifying Europe's supply of critical raw materials.

The EIB-backed investment will be implemented across two sites in Central Greece: METLEN's bauxite mining operations in the Parnassus-Giona area and its alumina and aluminium complex in Agios Nikolaos, Viotia, where the new gallium production facility will be developed.

Why the aluminium industry matters for gallium

Unlike most critical minerals, gallium does not occur in economically viable standalone ore deposits. Instead, it naturally substitutes for aluminium within bauxite minerals and typically occurs at concentrations of 20-80 ppm. During alumina production through the Bayer process, around 70 per cent of the gallium dissolves into Bayer liquor and gradually concentrates to 100-300 ppm through repeated recycling, while the remainder stays in red mud. As a result, commercial gallium production depends almost entirely on integrated alumina refineries rather than dedicated mines.

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METLEN sees growing global demand

Commenting on the agreement, Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman of METLEN, said, "We are particularly proud that METLEN is pioneering a completely new industrial chapter for both Greece and Europe; the successful development of gallium production was carried out by our teams at Aluminium of Greece."

He added, "For the first time in METLEN's history, one of our metallurgical products has attracted such strong interest from leading industrial economies worldwide. This reflects both the strategic importance of gallium and the confidence of global technology leaders in the quality and reliability of our material, which has already undergone extensive qualification testing."

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