In the second quarter of 2023, the price of Germanium in the United States experienced a decline, influenced by several factors, including deteriorating economic conditions and a slowdown in the downstream automotive and semiconductor industries. The US government faced economic challenges in June, triggered by the failure of several banks across the country, leading to a debt crisis. Rapidly rising inflation rates prompted the local government to implement an interest rate hike to stabilize the situation. This, in turn, discouraged local buyers from placing significant orders.