What is Indium (XIN)?
Indium is a soft silvery rare metal. Its primary application is transparent conductive coatings of indium tin oxide (ITO). This material covers the screens of virtually all smartphones, tablets, monitors and TVs in the world.
Indium in technology
ITO coatings enable touchscreens by passing light while conducting electricity. Indium is also used in thin-film solar panels (CIGS), LEDs and semiconductors. Demand grows with the electronics market.
Rarity and supply
Indium does not form its own deposits — it is extracted as a byproduct of zinc ore. Global production is only about 900 tonnes per year. China, South Korea and Japan are the largest producers. Limited supply creates potential for price growth.