Metlen Signs Gallium Deal for 25% of Output as West Pushes Beyond China

Q: Which unnamed US tech giant just secretly secured a massive share of Europe's future gallium supply to bypass China's export chokehold?

It is not publicly known. Metlen has deliberately kept the buyer unnamed, describing it only as a “leading U.S. technology company.” What is clear is the scale and strategic importance of the deal. The contract covers about 25% of output from Metlen’s planned Greek gallium facility, which is expected to start production in 2027 and reach 50 metric tons a year by 2028. At that level, the plant would be enough to meet all current EU gallium demand, meaning the U.S. buyer has locked in roughly 12.5 metric tons annually from one of Europe’s most important future non-Chinese sources. That makes the agreement significant in the broader supply-chain shift away from China, which still dominates global gallium production and has tightened export controls. Gallium is a key input for semiconductors, AI hardware, telecoms, renewable-energy systems and defense technologies, so securing long-term supply is strategically valuable for any major U.S. tech player. There has been no confirmed identification in Reuters, Metlen’s statements, or the related reporting provided. Any claim that the buyer is a specific company such as Nvidia, Intel, Apple, Microsoft or another U.S. tech giant would be speculation rather than established fact.

2 articles · Updated · Kathimerini English Edition · Jul 29

Metlen said its long-term gallium supply agreement with an undisclosed US technology company will take 25% of the Greek producer’s annual output.
2027 is Metlen’s target to start production, with capacity set to reach 50 metric tons a year by 2028—enough, the company says, to cover all EU gallium needs.
The company called it the first major commercial gallium supply deal between a European producer and a leading US tech company, underscoring Western efforts to secure semiconductor and defense materials.
China’s tighter controls on critical minerals have accelerated that shift, while Metlen’s gallium facility has already been designated a strategic project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.