China intensifies oversight on indium exports, raising concerns it may impose stricter controls as global demand for the metal surges due to its role in advanced AI infrastructure.
China, with 70% indium supply, added indium phosphide to export controls and tightened metal shipment scrutiny, stretching approvals from same-day to multiple days. Indium phosphide powers optical chips for AI data centers—supply friction poses direct risk to next-gen infrastructure.
China controls nearly 70% of indium supply
Jun 20, 2026
03:39 pm
What's the storyChina is tightening its grip on indium exports, a metal critical for next-gen data centers.
The move has raised concerns among buyers, who fear that this niche metal could soon be added to Beijing's export control regime.
China tightens indium export checks as AI demand increases
China tightens indium export checks amid rising AI demand
Beijing Steps Up Scrutiny of Indium Exports as AI Chip Demand Soars | OilPrice.com
China tightens indium phosphide checks as AI demand climbs
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China tightens indium export checks as AI data center demand surges. With 70% of global supply and InP wafer prices up 250%, the…
China is tightening customs checks on indium, the metal behind AI chips, fueling fears that export curbs could be next.
China has tightened export scrutiny of indium phosphide, a substitute-free material for AI data-centre optics, sending wafer…
China's export controls on indium phosphide are creating a critical bottleneck for AI data center buildouts, threatening…
Anderson's visit was partly to raise the issue of delays in China's export licenses involving the highly strategic material,…
