Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-01-15 02:17Group 1 - The U.S. government, through the Department of Defense, has invested $150 million in preferred stock in Atlantic Aluminum Company, aiming to establish the first large-scale gallium producer in the U.S. This move is seen as a response to China's dominance in the gallium market, where it controls 95% of global production [1] - The plan involves increasing Atlantic Aluminum's alumina production to 1 million tons per year, which could theoretically yield 50 tons of gallium annually, meeting the basic needs of the U.S. military, satellite, and semiconductor industries [3] - China's dominance in the gallium market is attributed to its ability to recycle gallium from alumina production, achieving a recovery rate of 85%, significantly higher than the global average of 72% [3] Group 2 - Japan's dependence on gallium is driven by military expansion and industrial challenges, with over 60% of small and medium-sized enterprises halting operations due to a lack of gallium following China's export controls [7] - The U.S. has not relaxed its controls on gallium, and Japan may need to invest more and accept U.S. technology control to gain access to gallium, reflecting its strategic vulnerability in resource security [7] - China's control over gallium is not just an economic strategy but also a means of shaping market rules, creating a tiered market based on purity standards that limits U.S. and Japanese technological advancements [9]