价格涨3倍，AI带火「钌」

Core Viewpoint - Ruthenium is emerging as a critical material in the technology industry, particularly due to its role in hard disk magnetic layers and advanced chips, with its price skyrocketing over threefold in the past year due to surging demand driven by AI and cloud data centers [2][4]. Group 1: Importance of Ruthenium - Ruthenium, a member of the platinum group metals, possesses high hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, making it essential in electronics, semiconductors, and chemical processes [3]. - The demand for Ruthenium is increasing alongside the growth of AI technology, which drives the need for data storage and the expansion of data centers, affecting both solid-state drives (SSD) and traditional hard disk drives (HDD) [3]. - Ruthenium is crucial for enhancing storage density in hard disks through nanometer-scale thin film technology, and its role in storage technology is expected to remain irreplaceable until a more cost-effective alternative emerges [3]. Group 2: Supply Challenges - Ruthenium is not mined independently but is a byproduct of platinum group metal extraction, with major sources concentrated in South Africa, where production is declining [4]. - The annual global production of Ruthenium is only a few dozen tons, making it extremely scarce compared to base metals like copper and aluminum, which produce millions of tons [4]. - The price of Ruthenium has surged, reaching approximately $1,750 per ounce as of March 13, 2023, up from about $500-$600 a year prior, reflecting its newfound prominence in the investment market [4]. Group 3: Future Demand and Market Position - Research institutions predict that the supply-demand balance for Ruthenium will remain tight, with a projected supply gap of approximately 203,000 ounces by 2026 [5]. - Taiwanese companies are positioning themselves in the Ruthenium supply chain, with Formosa Plastics Group focusing on semiconductor materials and developing atomic layer deposition (ALD) Ruthenium precursors [6]. - Other Taiwanese firms, like Kinsus Interconnect Technology, are also involved in Ruthenium, emphasizing recycling and refining capabilities to produce high-purity Ruthenium for advanced applications [6][7].