China just stopped exporting two minerals the world’s chipmakers need

Where does the rest of the world's gallium and germanium come from?

Except the article states we don’t really.

So are these minerals currently 80% and 60% of the world's supply because China has been selling it so cheap that other countries have not bothered to produce their own because it wasn't financially worthwhile, or is it because those elements are mostly concentrated in China? Because if it's the former, there's not really much to worry about.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

China’s exports of two rare minerals essential for manufacturing semiconductors fell to zero in August, a month after Beijing imposed curbs on sales overseas, citing national security.

China produces about 80% of the world’s gallium and about 60% of germanium, according to the Critical Raw Materials Alliance, but it didn’t sell any of the elements on international markets last month, Chinese customs data released on Wednesday showed.

In July, Beijing said the two elements, which are used in a variety of products including computer chips and solar panels, would be subject to export controls to protect the country’s “national security and interests.”

The move has ramped up a tech war with the United States over who has access to advanced chipmaking technology, which is vital for everything from smartphones and self-driving cars to weapons manufacturing.

Last October, the Biden administration unveiled a set of export controls banning Chinese companies from buying advanced chips and chip-making equipment without a license.

Beijing hit back by launching a cybersecurity probe into US chipmaker Micron in April before banning it from selling to Chinese companies working on key infrastructure projects.

The original article contains 634 words, the summary contains 186 words. Saved 71%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!