Germanium is one of the most important raw materials for the production of fibre optic cables. As an optical fibre, it plays a key role in the global expansion of fibre optic networks and the 5G mobile network. Another important area of application is infrared optics, where crystalline germanium is processed into infrared-permeable glass and lenses. These are required for the manufacture of night vision devices and thermal imaging cameras.
Another major consumer is the plastics industry, which uses the raw material in oxide form as a polymerisation catalyst. The metal is also used as a semiconductor in electronics and photovoltaics.
