Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-12-15 07:00Core Points - The mercury thermometer will be discontinued starting January 1, leading to a surge in demand and price increases for existing mercury thermometers [1][2] - The price of mercury thermometers has significantly risen, with online prices reaching 15-20 yuan, and some exceeding 20 yuan, compared to previous prices of 2-10 yuan [1][2] - The alternative to mercury thermometers, non-mercury glass thermometers, are more expensive, costing 20-30 yuan, and are made with safer materials like gallium-indium-tin alloy [1][6] Industry Insights - The production of mercury thermometers in China was approximately 120 million units annually, resulting in over 10 tons of mercury needing disposal due to breakage [4] - Major manufacturers of non-mercury thermometers include Shanghai Huachen Medical Instrument Co., Yuyue Medical, and Jiuan Medical, with Shanghai Huachen being the largest producer [6] - The upstream suppliers for non-mercury materials include major metal producers such as China Aluminum (gallium), Zhuhai Group (indium), and Xiyang Silver Tin (tin) [6] Market Dynamics - The non-mercury thermometer market is limited and faces competition from electronic thermometers, which are also gaining popularity [7] - The safety and accuracy of gallium-indium-tin alloy thermometers are comparable to mercury thermometers, but they are positioned as a safer alternative [7] - Companies with capabilities in developing special alloy materials, such as Antai Technology and Yuyuan New Materials, are also noteworthy in this transition [6]