REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Chinese prices of chip-making metal gallium hit their highest since February this week on stronger domestic demand and growing hopes of recovering exports, analysts and suppliers said. The spot price of gallium metal reached 1,975 yuan ($269.95) per kg on Oct. 18, up 18% since the start of July and up 8% since Aug. 1, data from consultancy Shanghai Metals Market showed. The Ministry of Commerce said last month that some Chinese companies have obtained export licences for gallium and germanium products. European prices of gallium metal surged by 68% from early July to $475 per kg on Oct. 18 and was up 23% from August, data from information provider Fastmarkets showed. ($1 = 7.3162 Chinese yuan)Reporting by Amy Lv and Dominique Patton in Beijing; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Florence Lo, Li Yilan, Antaike, Amy Lv, Dominique Patton, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, . Geological Survey, Shanghai Metals, Beijing, Commerce, Fastmarkets, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing