Gallium Price Calculator - Grade, Freight, Duty and Delivered Cost | GalliumPrice.com
Build the full delivered cost of gallium from base price through grade premium, freight, insurance, duty, and currency conversion - layer by layer. Select a starting basis and add each cost component to model your actual landed price per kilogram.
Gallium Delivered Cost Calculator
What Cost Layers Sit Between the China Ex-Works Gallium Price and the Western Delivered Price?
Before August 2023, the combined freight-insurance-duty cost from EXW China to in-warehouse Rotterdam was $50-150/kg - roughly 20-60% of the China domestic price. After China imposed export licensing on August 1, 2023, the spread blew out to over $1,800/kg by Q1 2026. The calculator above lets you model each layer independently. For pre-controls pricing (before August 2023), set the export license premium to 0% and use a base price of $200-300/kg. For current market conditions, the Rotterdam in-warehouse basis already embeds all seven layers into a single assessed figure published by Fastmarkets and Argus.
| Cost Layer | Pre-Controls (2022) | Q1 2026 | % of Delivered Price (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| China EXW base (4N) | $200-300/kg | ~$247/kg | ~12% |
| Export license premium | $0 | $800-1,400/kg (embedded) | ~55-65% |
| Grade premium (4N to 6N) | +20-40% | +30-45% | Variable |
| Ocean freight (Shanghai-Rotterdam) | $2-5/kg | $2-5/kg | ~0.1-0.2% |
| Cargo insurance | 0.3-0.5% CIF | 0.5-1.5% CIF | ~0.5% |
| Import duty (EU) | 0-3% | 0-3% | ~1-2% |
| Hazmat packaging (UN2803) | $1-3/kg | $1-3/kg | ~0.1% |
What Is the Freight Cost to Ship Gallium from China to Europe or the US?
Gallium ships under UN number 2803 as a hazardous material. IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations require Packing Group I level packaging standards even though the Shipper's Declaration lists Packing Group III. This classification adds $1-3/kg in specialized packaging costs and limits the number of carriers willing to handle gallium shipments. The per-kilogram freight cost is low relative to the metal's value ($2-7/kg freight on a $2,100/kg commodity), which is why freight accounts for less than 0.3% of the delivered price in the current market.
| Route | Mode | Cost/kg (est.) | Transit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai to Rotterdam | Ocean (FCL) | $2-5 | 25-32 days | $2,094-2,200/40ft container |
| Shanghai to Rotterdam | Air | ~$6.90 | 5-7 days | IATA DGR applies (UN2803) |
| China to Europe | Rail (FCL) | $3-6 | 18-22 days | $4,000-6,000/container |
| Shanghai to Los Angeles | Ocean | $2-4 | 14-18 days | Transpacific route |
| Shanghai to New York | Ocean | $3-6 | 30-35 days | Via Panama Canal or Suez |
What Import Duty Rates Apply to Gallium by Country?
Section 301 tariffs add complexity for US importers. The base duty of 3% is straightforward, but depending on the specific HTS subheading and the current USTR List assignment, an additional 7.5% or 25% tariff may apply to gallium of Chinese origin. This stacks on top of the base rate: 3% base + 25% Section 301 = 28% total duty on CIF value. Since China accounts for over 98% of global gallium production, avoiding Section 301 tariffs requires sourcing from non-Chinese origin - currently limited to small volumes from South Korea, Japan, and the emerging Western projects in Canada and Australia.
| Destination | HTS/HS Code | Base Duty | Additional Tariff | Total Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 8112.92.10 | 3.0% | 7.5-25% (Section 301) | 10.5-28% |
| European Union | 8112.92 | 0% | None active | 0% |
| United Kingdom | 8112.92 | 0% | None active | 0% |
| Japan | 8112.92 | ~1.4% | None active | ~1.4% |
| South Korea | 8112.92 | 3-5% | None active | 3-5% |
| India | 8112.92 | 5-7.5% | GST 18% | 5-7.5% + GST |
How Does the China Export License Add to the Effective Gallium Price?
Exporters must submit an application to provincial MOFCOM offices that includes: the commercial agreement, technical description of the gallium (grade, form, quantity), end-use and end-user certification, and identity documentation for both importer and end-user. Broker and compliance consultant fees for preparing these applications add $500-2,000 per shipment in professional service costs. But the larger cost is the time value of capital tied up during the 45-180 day wait and the probability-weighted cost of rejection. If approval takes 120 days and the buyer has financed a $500,000 purchase at 5% annual interest, the time cost alone is $8,219. The calculator above lets you model this as a percentage premium on the base price.
Does the Physical Form of Gallium Affect the Delivered Price?
| Form | Typical Premium vs Ingot | Common Sizes | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingot | Baseline (0%) | 2-3 cm x 3-8 cm x 6-12 cm | General feedstock, VGF crystal growth |
| Shot / Granules | +3-8% | 1-5 mm irregular | Alloying, fast-melt applications |
| Pellets | +5-12% | 3 mm, 1/8", 1/4" diameter | Evaporation sources, MBE |
| Powder | +8-15% | -100 mesh, -325 mesh | Sputtering targets, sintering |
| Custom geometry | +10-20%+ | Per customer spec | Specific crucible/reactor fits |
What Minimum Order Quantities Do Gallium Suppliers Require?
| Channel | MOQ | Grade Range | Pricing Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese refiner (direct) | 10-100 kg | 3N5 to 6N | EXW China, CNY/kg |
| Western distributor | 1 kg (4N); 100 g (6N+) | 4N to 7N5 | $/kg or $/g, delivered |
| Trading house (Trafigura, Traxys) | 50-500 kg | 4N to 5N | CIF or in-warehouse, $/kg |
| Investment platform | $10,000 (~4.8 kg) | 4N | Spot + markup, $/kg |
| Retail / lab supply | 10-500 g | 4N to 7N | $/g (30-100% premium) |