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INDIUM

Critical, rare and indispensable

Applications
Raw Materials Trade

All about the fascinating metal indium

Indium is an indispensable raw material - both for modern electronics and communication technology. The best-known applications for indium are touchscreens, LCD and OLED displays. While industrial demand is increasing, the availability of the technology metal is becoming increasingly limited: Production is concentrated in just a few countries and scaling is hardly possible, as indium is mainly obtained as a by-product of zinc processing. Security of supply is increasingly becoming a strategic challenge for the global high-tech industry.

Background

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Properties

These properties make indium so desirable.

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Occurrence

Indium is extracted in these countries.

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History

All the historical facts about indium.

Areas of application

A metal with broad industrial relevance.

Indium is a critical raw material with growing importance for key technologies such as LED lighting, touchscreens, semiconductors and thin-film solar cells. As indium tin oxide (ITO), it is essential for almost all modern displays. With the increasing demand for smartphones, electric vehicles and energy-efficient lighting, the demand for indium is likely to increase further.

Areas of application

News on technology metals

  • Semiconductors: Japan to Fund New U.S. Chip Plant
    on 15. October 2026

    Approximately $10 billion is initially set to be invested in the facility in New York State. A future expansion could bring the total to $21 billion.

  • Critical Raw Materials: Vietnam Attracts Growing International Interest
    on 14. October 2026

    Vietnam could become an important partner for the European Union thanks to its abundance of mineral resources, as the bloc seeks to reduce its heavy dependence on China. In January, the two sides agreed to strengthen their cooperation, including in the extraction and processing of strategic raw materials.

  • U.S. Chip Industry: Raw Material Risks Run Deep into Supply Chains
    on 13. October 2026

    The semiconductor industry is essential to many emerging technologies. However, its supply of critical raw materials and intermediate products faces significant risks, as a recent report by the U.S. industry association SIA reveals.

More news