Core Insights - Indium has emerged as a valuable metal, outperforming gold and rare earths in terms of price appreciation, with its price rising from 1,200 RMB/kg to 4,000 RMB/kg over five years, a total increase of 233% [1][3] - The global supply of indium is extremely limited, with only 16,000 tons available compared to 120 million tons of rare earths, making indium's scarcity over 100 times that of rare earths [1][3] - The surge in demand for indium is driven by the AI computing revolution, particularly due to the production of Nvidia's Quantum-X switches, which require significantly more indium for their silicon photonic engines [3][4] Industry Overview - The AI computing boom has led to a strategic shortage of indium, with 72.7% of global indium resources concentrated in China, while domestic production capacity is only 150,000 pieces per year, far below the global demand of 2 million pieces [3] - Indium is considered an irreplaceable element for optical communication and AI chips, with the U.S. relying almost entirely on imports, prompting China to restrict indium exports in response to U.S. tariffs [3][4] Key Companies - Major players in the indium market include: - **Zhuye Group**: The largest indium producer globally, with an annual production capacity of 60 tons [3] - **Zhongjin Lingnan**: An integrated lead-zinc mining company producing approximately 20 tons of indium annually as a byproduct [3] - **Xiyang Co.**: A leading company in both tin and indium, controlling the largest indium resource base globally [4] - **Company with 6-inch Indium Phosphide Substrate Technology**: Achieved a significant technological breakthrough, reducing costs by 40% and increasing production capacity fourfold compared to 3-inch wafers, potentially generating over 1.6 billion RMB in revenue [4]