Prices of the metal germanium, critical for making infrared military equipment including in fighter jets and missiles, hit a 14-year high this month as the Chinese export restrictions of critical and rare earth metals are hitting the supply chains of the West’s military systems. The market has dried up and there is panic among customers who are desperate to find supply of germanium, traders have told the Financial Times. As a result of the supply crunch from China, first announced in 2023, the price of germanium has soared to…