Korea Zinc said its second-quarter indium sales volume rose 51% from the previous quarter, allowing it to capture a sharp rally in prices even as raw-material intake declined. The company said proactive inventory management lifted sales volumes despite lower metal inflows, indicating it sold stockpiles into a strong market. Indium prices climbed from $355 per kilogram in the first quarter of last year to $713 in the second quarter of this year and reached around $800 ($791) in the current quarter, more than doubling in a little over a year. The increase reflects tighter supply outside China after stricter Chinese export controls, alongside stronger demand from AI data centers and optical communications, where indium is used in indium phosphide for laser chips. Korea Zinc said it is emphasizing spot sales to maximize profitability while demand remains well above supply. The shift has changed the revenue mix in rare metals: antimony's share fell to 43% in the second quarter of this year from 70% in the second quarter of 2025, while indium's share more than doubled to 22% from 10%. Hanwha Investment & Securities analyst Kwon Ji-woo said the rare-metals business should improve further in the third quarter, led by indium, while Korea Zinc is also reportedly exploring in-house indium compounds and direct sales to data center customers as it pushes further into higher-value products.