Tungsten market Data through 10 Aug 2026

Element · supply chain · market

Tungsten market

What tungsten is

Tungsten is a dense, heat-resistant metal. Its symbol, W, comes from wolfram; its atomic number is 74. Tungsten carbide (WC) is exceptionally hard and wear-resistant. Industry uses it mainly in cutting, drilling and wear parts, and also in tool steel, aerospace, energy, electronics and defence.

W
Chemical symbol
74
Atomic number
65%
Estimated share of 2016 first use in carbide products
01

Output: crushed and ground ore

Mining and ore

Mines extract tungsten-bearing rock, then crush and grind it to free the tungsten minerals. Producers usually report output as contained tungsten.

Mine production

USGS estimates that mines produced 85,000 tonnes of contained tungsten in 2025.

World
85,000 t2025 estimate
China
67,000 t78.8% of world output
Rest of world
18,000 t21.2% of world output

Production trend

2020–2024 · BGS
−12%85,900 → 75,500 t
2024 · BGS
−8%compared with 2023
2025 · USGS estimate
+3.7%82,000 → 85,000 t

BGS and USGS are separate annual production series.

BGS 2020–2024 ↗USGS 2024–2025 estimates ↗

Mine production by country, 2020–2025

Tonnes of contained tungsten and share of each year's world total

BGS 2020–2024 ↗USGS 2025 ↗

Scroll for full table

Country or group 2020BGS · t and share 2021BGS · t and share 2022BGS · t and share 2023BGS · t and share 2024BGS · t and share 2025USGS · t and share
China71,45083.2%68,66082.2%65,62079.9%66,000*80.2%59,000*78.1%67,00078.8%
Vietnam6,4437.5%6,2237.5%6,3187.7%5,8177.1%5,3947.1%3,0003.5%
KazakhstanNot listedNot listedNot listedNot listedNot listed2,4002.8%
North Korea400*0.5%50*0.1%1,500*1.8%1,600*1.9%1,800*2.4%2,0002.4%
Russia2,2742.6%2,1432.6%1,8462.2%1,5111.8%1,400*1.9%2,0002.4%
Bolivia1,6992.0%1,9712.4%1,7132.1%1,8982.3%2,1272.8%1,7002.0%
Rwanda9561.1%1,2811.5%1,8082.2%1,7862.2%1,5872.1%1,3001.5%
Australia100*0.1%1600.2%2850.3%4200.5%1,0161.3%1,0001.2%
Austria8961.0%9191.1%9101.1%8351.0%8381.1%8401.0%
Spain2380.3%6430.8%5880.7%7110.9%8401.1%8000.9%
Portugal5350.6%5020.6%4480.5%4270.5%4690.6%7000.8%
Brazil2570.3%3010.4%3020.4%2840.3%2830.4%Grouped
Mongolia20*0.0%120*0.1%210*0.3%320*0.4%1900.3%Grouped
DR Congo1170.1%1080.1%1490.2%2360.3%1740.2%Grouped
Kyrgyzstan100*0.1%100*0.1%100*0.1%100*0.1%100*0.1%Grouped
Nigeria13*0.0%210.0%200.0%500.1%820.1%Grouped
Malaysia…—40.0%240.0%970.1%50*0.1%Grouped
Mexico320.0%40*0.0%500.1%50*0.1%50*0.1%Grouped
Burundi1670.2%1200.1%770.1%690.1%430.1%Grouped
Myanmar1300.2%760.1%690.1%30*0.0%30*0.0%Grouped
Thailand700.1%720.1%740.1%400.0%20*0.0%Grouped
South Korea—0.0%—0.0%—0.0%—0.0%170.0%Grouped
Uganda90.0%320.0%480.1%410.0%17*0.0%Grouped
Uzbekistan20.0%20.0%10.0%160.0%16*0.0%Grouped
Other countries—0.0%—0.0%—0.0%—0.0%—0.0%2,4002.8%
World total85,900100.0%83,500100.0%82,100100.0%82,300100.0%75,500100.0%85,000100.0%

2020–2024 use the BGS series. 2025 uses the USGS estimate. Each share uses that series' world total. * marks a BGS estimate. In the BGS columns, — means nil and … means unavailable. USGS includes countries without a separate 2025 estimate in “Other countries”. Rounded 2025 country estimates add to slightly more than the rounded world total.

2024 source comparison. BGS estimates world output at 75,500 t, against 82,000 t from USGS. Most of the difference comes from China: 59,000 t in BGS and 67,000 t in USGS. Smaller differences reflect reporting periods, production proxies, revisions and country grouping.

Reported tungsten reserves

USGS MCS 2026 · tonnes of tungsten content

USGS reserves ↗

Scroll for full table

Country or groupReserve estimate, t W
China2,500,000
Other countries950,000
Australia570,000
Russia400,000
Vietnam170,000
Spain66,000
North Korea29,000
Austria10,000
Portugal3,400
World totalMore than 4,700,000

National reserve classifications differ. Australia's 570,000 t figure includes 220,000 t classed as JORC-compliant or equivalent.

Mines and projects

Ownership, recent production, current work and the next stated milestone

Scroll for full table · 1 MTU = 10 kg WO3

Mine or projectCountryStatusLatest disclosed activityCompany plan or next eventPeriod
China Tungsten High-Tech ↗ChinaOperatingOperating portfolio includes Shizhuyuan and Far Vision Tungsten.Far Vision Tungsten entered the listed-company portfolio in 2025.2025
Details
Main mine assets
The portfolio includes Shizhuyuan and Far Vision Tungsten. The company describes Shizhuyuan as the world's largest single operating tungsten mine.
Latest ownership change
Far Vision Tungsten entered the listed-company portfolio in 2025.

Report2025 annual report ↗
Xiamen Tungsten mines ↗ChinaOperatingLuoyang Yulu, Ninghua Xingluokeng and Duchang Jinding operated in 2025.Youmaopo is under construction. Its design is 3,200 t a year of concentrate adjusted to 65% WO3.2025 report
Details
Operating mines
Luoyang Yulu recovers scheelite from CMOC tailings. Ninghua Xingluokeng and Duchang Jinding are also operating mine businesses.
Youmaopo project
Bobai Judian's Youmaopo tungsten-molybdenum mine is under construction. The design uses 660,000 t of ore a year and makes 3,200 t a year of concentrate adjusted to 65% WO3.
Planned mine life
The company gives a 22-year service life after construction for Youmaopo.

Report2025 annual report ↗
Zhangyuan Tungsten mines ↗ChinaOperatingTaoxikeng, Xin'anzi and Dayu Shilei operated in 2025.The company uses its mine concentrate inside its own processing chain and also buys concentrate and APT.2025
Details
Mine portfolio
The company holds six mining licences. Taoxikeng, Xin'anzi and Dayu Shilei were operating in 2025.
Material route
All company-mined concentrate is used internally. The processing plants also buy concentrate and APT.
Tailings
The Dayu Shilei tailings facility was closed and accepted. Mine tailings moved to underground backfill.

Report2025 annual report ↗
Boguty ↗KazakhstanOperatingMade 5,008 t of concentrate and 3,255 t of tungsten trioxideCompany design: process 3.3 million t of ore a year2025
Details
Owner and operator
Zhetisu Volframy LLP holds the mine right. Jiaxin owns 97% indirectly; Ever Trillion International Singapore owns 3%.
Mining right
Subsoil Use Contract 4608-TPI covers 1.16 km² to a maximum depth of 300 m. It runs from 2 June 2015 to 2 June 2040.
Background
Phase I commercial production began in April 2025.
2025 production
2.80 million t of ore mined; 5,008 t of tungsten concentrate; 3,255 t of tungsten trioxide.
Customer
One unnamed customer accounted for all reported 2025 revenue. Tungsten-concentrate revenue was HK$1.063 billion.
Company design
Process 3.3–3.8 million t of ore a year. The Phase II plan raises this to 4.95 million t a year.

Reports2025 annual report ↗2025 prospectus ↗
Vostok 2 ↗RussiaOperatingExtracted 1,471 t of WO3, 95.6% of the 2024 amountThe regional government said lower ore quality caused the decline.2025
Details
Owner and operator
Primorsky GOK is the mine company. AIR processes the underground scheelite ore into concentrate.
2023 record
1,770 t WO3 extracted and 1,538 t WO3 reported in concentrate.
2025 record
1,471 t WO3 extracted, equal to 95.6% of the 2024 amount.
Latest event
The Primorsky government said production fell because ore quality declined.

ReportsRussia 2023 State Balance ↗Primorsky 2025 report ↗
Festivalnoye & Pravoumiyskoye ↗RussiaOperatingRusolovo reported 127 t of tungsten in concentrate in 2025 and 65 t in the first half of 2026These are tin mines that recover tungsten as a by-product. The company labels the measure “tungsten in concentrate.”Through Jun 2026
Details
Owner and operator
Rusolovo, part of Seligdar, operates the two tin mines. Tungsten and copper concentrate are by-products.
Tungsten series
103 t in 2023, 68 t in 2024, 127 t in 2025 and 65 t in the first half of 2026. The company labels the measure “tungsten in concentrate.”
H1 2026 work
The division mined 557,000 t of ore and processed 566,000 t, including material passing through X-ray preconcentration.
Reported reserves
At 1 January 2026, C1+C2 WO3 reserves were 5,600 t at Festivalnoye and 1,800 t at Pravoumiyskoye.

ReportsTin division ↗H1 2026 update ↗Reserves ↗
Nyakabingo ↗RwandaOperatingOperator reports 100–110 t of wolframite a month containing 66–70% “Tungsten”Advanced drilling began in 2026. The 25-year mine licence started in 2015.May 2026
Details
Owner and operator
Trinity Metals operates Nyakabingo.
Background
The mine has operated since the 1930s. Its 25-year licence began in 2015, and the operator reports more than 1,800 workers.
Current production
100–110 t of wolframite a month containing 66–70% “Tungsten”, using the operator's wording.
Latest work
An advanced drilling programme began in 2026 to define deeper mineralisation.
Separate Rwanda event
On 25 June 2026, the US Treasury designated Bugambira Mines, Rwinkwavu Mining and Wolfram Mining and Processing because of their ownership or control. Nyakabingo was not one of the named companies.

Reports21 May mine update ↗US Treasury designations ↗
Man-nyon ↗North KoreaHistorical recordA South Korean government portal gives 2,538 t a year of concentrate at 70% WO3, using a 2004 reference dateHistorical mine record; the 2025 figure is a national estimateHistorical record / 2025 national estimate
Details
National estimate
USGS estimates North Korea produced 2,000 t of contained tungsten in 2025.
Mine record
A South Korean government portal gives 2,538 t a year of concentrate at 70% WO3 for Man-nyon, with a 2004 reference date.
Historical capacity
The same portal gives 4,500 t a year of concentrate at 60% WO3. USGS separately estimates 4,000 t WO3-content capacity.
Current status
The mine record uses a 2004 reference date. The 2025 figure is a national estimate.

ReportsNorth Korea Information Portal ↗USGS country page ↗
Mt Carbine ↗AustraliaOperatingMade 13,050 MTU and sold 14,115 MTU in the June quarter; made 4,588 MTU in July ↗A$39 million expansion ↗ is designed to raise crushing capacity from about 1 million to 2 million t a year. Final testing is planned for March 2027.Through Jul 2026
Details
Owner and operator
EQ Resources controls 100% through Mt Carbine Quarries. The site combines open-pit mining and reprocessing.
June quarter material movement
1,059,120 t mined, including 254,642 t of ore. Crushing feed was 188,322 t. Gravity-plant feed was 70,349 t at 0.258% WO3, with 68% recovery.
June quarter production
13,050 MTU produced and 14,115 MTU sold.
Closing ore stocks
94,890 t of run-of-mine ore and 9,380,607 t in the low-grade stockpile at 30 June 2026.
July 2026
4,588 MTU produced and 3,682 MTU sold.
Company expansion
A$39 million project under construction. It is designed to raise crushing capacity from about 1 million to 2 million t a year. The company expects it to add about 500 t of WO3 output a year. Final testing is planned for March 2027.

Reports28 July quarterly report ↗5 August update ↗Expansion plan ↗
Barruecopardo ↗SpainOperatingMade 15,265 MTU and sold 15,353 MTU in the June quarter; made 9,667 MTU in July ↗EQR reported a 10 July notice alleging that parts of the restoration plan's water-management rules had not been followed. Mining continued.Through Jul 2026
Details
Owner and operator
EQ Resources owns 100% through Saloro S.L.U. The open-pit mine produces tungsten concentrate.
June quarter material movement
260,963 t of ore mined, 458,504 t crushed and 222,752 t sent to the gravity plant at 0.126% WO3. Recovery was 54%.
June quarter production
15,265 MTU produced and 15,353 MTU sold.
Closing ore stocks
51,072 t of run-of-mine ore and 503,620 t in the low-grade stockpile at 30 June 2026.
July 2026
9,667 MTU produced and 11,074 MTU sold.
Latest event
Northern mining continued while the southern pit was drained. Ore from the southern pit returned after an 8 July blast. EQR said it received a 10 July notice alleging that parts of the restoration plan's water-management rules had not been followed.

Reports28 July quarterly report ↗5 August update ↗
Dolphin ↗AustraliaStockpile processingProcessed 77,953 t of stockpiled ore, made 21,297 MTU and sold 25,514 MTUUnderground development began. The company expected the first underground ore to reach the mill in the quarter ending Sep 2026.Jun quarter 2026
Details
Owner and operator
Group 6 Metals owns 100%. The mine produces scheelite concentrate.
June quarter 2026
No ore was mined and 6,205 t of waste was moved. The plant processed 77,953 t of stockpiled ore at an estimated 0.45% WO3, made 21,297 MTU and sold 25,514 MTU.
Closing ore stock
About 295,000 t at an estimated 0.26% WO3, containing about 77,000 MTU.
Plant design
400,000 t of ore feed a year and concentrate containing 63% WO3.
Latest mine status
The plant was processing stockpiled ore while underground development began. The company expected the first underground ore to reach the mill in the quarter ending September 2026.
Latest company event
Trading in Group 6 Metals shares resumed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 30 July 2026.

Reports13 July quarterly report ↗30 July trading notice ↗4 August presentation ↗
Kara ↗AustraliaCare & maintenanceGeoscience Australia assumed minor production when estimating national output for 2024Tasmania's December 2025 prospectus lists the mine on care and maintenance.Dec 2025
Details
Background
Kara is a small magnetite and scheelite operation in north-west Tasmania.
2024 national estimate
Geoscience Australia included assumed minor Kara production when it estimated Australian output at more than 1,000 t of contained tungsten.
Latest status
Tasmania's December 2025 critical-minerals prospectus lists Kara on care and maintenance.
Latest government process
The Tasmanian EPA completed its assessment of a proposed waste-rock-storage extension in July 2025.

ReportsGeoscience Australia ↗Tasmania prospectus ↗EPA assessment ↗
Sangdong ↗South KoreaStarting upMined 19,700 t of development ore. The plant began processing stockpiled ore and producing concentrate.First-stage design ↗: process 640,000 t of ore and make about 2,300 t of concentrate a yearThrough Jul 2026
Details
Owner and operator
Almonty owns 100% indirectly through Almonty Korea Tungsten Corporation. Sangdong is an underground mine.
Latest status
Development mining produced 19,700 t of ore in the second quarter of 2026. The plant began with lower-grade stockpiled ore to stabilise and blend the process before higher-grade feed. The operator described the stockpile as about two months of Phase I feed.
Shipment status
First customer shipment was still pending on 10 August 2026.
Purchase contract
Global Tungsten & Powders is contracted to buy about 90% of Phase I concentrate. The amended contract runs for 21 years from first delivery and covers 4.41 million MTU in total.
Company design
Phase I: process 640,000 t of ore and make about 2,300 t of concentrate a year. Phase II: 1.2 million t of ore and about 4,600 t of concentrate a year, subject to a later decision.

Reports1 July operating update ↗14 July purchase-contract update ↗
Hemerdon ↗United KingdomRestartBuilding work and preparations to restart the plantThe first stage will process fine material at up to 100 t an hour. Full start-up is planned for the first quarter of 2027.8 Jul 2026 update
Details
Owner and operator
Tungsten West describes Hemerdon as wholly owned. Drakelands Restoration Ltd holds the current processing and waste permit.
Background
Open-pit tungsten and tin mine preparing to restart.
Latest status
On 8 July 2026 the company said it planned to begin testing and bringing the plant into operation later that month. Construction and restart preparation were under way.
Funding
A US$25 million bridge facility was binding. Documents for a separate facility of up to US$85 million were still being completed.
Installed and initial rates
Fines equipment is installed for about 200 t an hour, with initial operation planned at up to 100 t an hour. The first coarse-material configuration is about 150 t an hour.
Company plan
Fines and downstream work in the third quarter of 2026, coarse commissioning in the fourth quarter, full start-up in the first quarter of 2027 and a later ramp to 500 t an hour during 2027.

Reports8 July project update ↗Environment Agency permit ↗
Tyrnyauz ↗RussiaStudyConfirmatory drilling and mine-economic modelling were under wayDevelopment is planned to start with gold. Tungsten and molybdenum commissioning was provisionally set for 2028.Mar 2025
Details
Background
Former tungsten-molybdenum mine being reconsidered as part of a wider mining cluster.
Latest status
Confirmatory drilling and mine-economic modelling were under way in March 2025. Development is planned to start with the gold part of the cluster.
Latest timetable
Tungsten and molybdenum production or commissioning was provisionally set for 2028.
Project scale
The newer plan gives 2.5–3.5 million t of cluster ore a year for the first stage. An older tungsten design used 1.5 million t of ore and 5,385 t WO3 a year.

ReportsRostec project update ↗Russia 2023 report ↗
Sisson ↗CanadaBefore constructionUpdating the feasibility study and carrying out engineering and field workEarlier design: process 10.5 million t of ore a year for 27 years2026 update
Details
Owner and operator
Northcliff Resources owns 88.5% and operates the project. Todd Sisson owns 11.5%.
Background
Proposed open-pit tungsten and molybdenum mine. The plan is to make molybdenum concentrate and turn tungsten concentrate into APT.
Latest status
Approvals are in place. The company is updating the feasibility study and carrying out engineering and field work before a construction decision.
July 2026 funding
A C$7.349 million loan from Todd Sisson refinanced earlier Todd loans.
Earlier study
The 2013 design used 10.5 million t of ore a year and a 27-year mine life. The current study is still being prepared.

ReportsCanada project page ↗5 February project update ↗31 July loan update ↗
Panasqueira ↗PortugalOperatingMined, processed and shipped tungsten concentratePlans to raise processing capacity from 600,000 to 800,000 t of ore a yearQ1 2026
Details
Owner and operator
Almonty owns the mine indirectly through Beralt Tin and Wolfram, which holds the rights and operates it.
Background
Underground mine producing tungsten, tin and copper concentrates.
Latest status
The mine was mining, processing and shipping tungsten concentrate in the first quarter of 2026. Production was 14.7% lower and shipments were 15.5% lower than a year earlier.
Company plan
Raise processing capacity from 600,000 to 800,000 t of ore a year and extend mining to Level 4.

Reports2025 annual information form ↗First-quarter 2026 report ↗
Mittersill ↗AustriaOperatingUnderground tungsten mine with its own concentrate plantSends concentrate to the St. Martin processing plantCurrent at 10 Aug 2026
Details
Owner and operator
Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten operates the mine and processing plant. The company is wholly owned within the Sandvik group.
Mine
Underground scheelite mine with an on-site plant that makes tungsten concentrate.
Product route
The concentrate goes to Wolfram's St. Martin plant, which makes refined compounds, tungsten powder and tungsten-carbide powder.

ReportsMine page ↗Sandvik ownership record ↗
Nui Phao ↗VietnamOperatingA large open-pit mine and processing complex producing tungsten, fluorspar, bismuth and copper. Mining moved to the West Pit.MTC used purchased concentrate during the transition and expected more feed from Nui Phao.2025 / quarter ending Jun 2026
Details
Owner and operator
Masan High-Tech Materials owns Nui Phao Mining Company and the separate MTC refinery. Masan Group reports about 93% economic ownership of Masan High-Tech Materials.
Background
Nui Phao is an open-pit mine producing tungsten, fluorspar, bismuth and copper products. MTC is the connected tungsten refinery.
Mining licence amendment
The February 2026 amendment expanded the mining area from 90 to 151.8 ha, added western open-pit and eastern underground areas, and mobilised 14,655,040 t of ore for mining through 2031.
Latest status
MTC used external concentrate while mining moved to the West Pit. The company expected more feed from Nui Phao and plans more than 8,000 t a year of oxide capacity.

Mine and mill history

Raw ore extracted and ore processed · 2022–2025

Scroll for full table

YearRaw ore extractedOre processed
20223,449,116 t—
2023608,784 t3.493 Mt
20241,512,882 t3.239 Mt
20252,005,420 t2.280 Mt

Reports2025 annual report ↗Second-quarter 2026 report ↗2026 environmental application ↗
02

Output: tungsten concentrate

Concentrate

Gravity, flotation and magnetic separation remove much of the unwanted rock. The resulting concentrate is sold by tungsten content or by its tungsten-trioxide (WO₃) grade. One MTU is 10 kilograms of WO₃.

Main chemical route
Concentrate is dissolved and purified before APT is crystallised.
Common grade reference
China's mine quota uses standard tonnes of concentrate adjusted to 65% WO₃.
Steel branch
Concentrate can be smelted into ferro-tungsten. Steelmakers add ferro-tungsten to tool steel and heat-resistant alloys. Russia's Moliren ferroalloy plant stopped buying tungsten concentrate in 2022.

Reported concentrate output in China

National and company figures for 2025

Scroll for full table

Producer or groupReported outputBasis
China Tungsten Industry Association ↗130,600 standard tPreliminary national figure
China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association ↗133,600 tNational figure at 65% WO3
China Tungsten High-Tech ↗11,100 standard tCompany production
Zhangyuan Tungsten ↗3,691 tAt least 65% WO3
Xiamen Tungsten mines ↗About 12,000 t a yearAdjusted to 65% WO3

A standard tonne is one tonne of concentrate adjusted to 65% WO3.

03

Output: ammonium paratungstate

APT

Chemical plants dissolve concentrate or suitable scrap, remove impurities and crystallise ammonium paratungstate (APT). APT is the main refined intermediate used to make tungsten oxide.

Reported APT output in China

National and company figures for 2025

Producer or groupAPT outputBasis
China Tungsten Industry Association ↗136,000 tPreliminary national figure
China Tungsten High-Tech ↗16,600 tCompany production
MTC permit · APT
The multi-product refinery permit allows 3,278 t of APT a year.

Refining plant details

Feed, products, ownership and recent operating events

Global Tungsten & Powders · TowandaPennsylvania, United States Operating
Owner and operator
Global Tungsten & Powders is part of Plansee Group and operates the Towanda plant.
Products
APT, tungsten oxide, tungsten-metal powder, tungsten carbide, chemicals and semi-finished or finished parts.
Feed
The plant processes mine concentrate, tungsten intermediates and secondary material. Incoming lots are weighed, sampled and recorded.
Air operating permit
Pennsylvania permit 08-00010 is effective from 22 August 2024 to 21 August 2029.

ReportsPlant and products ↗Due-diligence report ↗Air permit ↗

Russia's downstream processing baseRussia Contracted
Domestic concentrate use
The 2023 State Balance report estimated visible domestic use at about 3,000–4,000 t of gross concentrate a year, equal in its text to about 1,500–2,000 t WO3.
Gidrometallurg
Main production stopped in February 2023. The company was declared bankrupt in August 2024.
Other companies
Unecha Refractory Metals Plant was declared bankrupt in July 2023. Company Wolfram was declared bankrupt in January 2024.

ReportRussia 2023 State Balance ↗

H.C. Starck Tungsten · GoslarGermany Operating
Owner
Mitsubishi Materials completed its acquisition of the H.C. Starck tungsten group in December 2024.
Products
APT, tungsten chemicals, tungsten-metal powder and tungsten-carbide powder.
Feed
The plant buys scrap, customer material for reprocessing, APT and tungsten oxide. It buys no ore or concentrate.
2024 raw material
4,841,586 kg of WO3 in the operator's raw-material accounting line.
Secondary material
The operator reported an approximately 80% processing measure that compares purchased scrap and customer returns with purchased intermediates. It is not a recycled-content or recovery rate.
Latest development
In July 2026, the company announced work on a tungsten-metal powder for fusion-reactor internal components under Germany's Fusion 2040 programme.

Reports2024 environmental statement ↗Fusion powder project ↗

St. Martin / BerglaAustria Operating
Owner and operator
Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten operates the plant within the Sandvik group.
Products
APT, tungsten oxide, tungsten-metal powder and tungsten-carbide powder.
Feed
Concentrate from Mittersill, concentrate from other mines, recycled material and tungsten intermediates.
2021 input
6,466 t of contained tungsten in raw materials. Mittersill supplied 14%; imported materials supplied 86%.
2025 recycling statement
Recycled material supplied 50% of total raw-material input.

Reports2025 public information ↗USGS 2021 plant input ↗

04

Output: tungsten oxide

Tungsten oxide

Heating APT removes ammonia and water and leaves tungsten oxide. Processors then reduce the oxide with hydrogen to make tungsten-metal powder.

Nui Phao oxide production

Dry tonnes of commercial and low-grade oxide · 2022–2025

Scroll for full table

YearCommercial oxideLow-grade oxide
20227,237 dry t at 50.36% WO313,745 dry t at 9.72% WO3
20233,144 dry t at 50% WO36,706 dry t at 8.52% WO3
20242,887.08 dry t at 50.34% WO36,290.40 dry t at 5.38% WO3
20251,807.40 dry t at 50.07% WO35,673.09 dry t at 4–10% WO3
MTC permit · oxide and tungstate
The multi-product refinery permit allows 5,000 t of blue or yellow oxide and 1,067 t of sodium tungstate a year.
MTC and NPMC output
Products contained 3,560 t of tungsten in 2025 and 2,357 t in the first half of 2026. The refinery also used purchased concentrate.
Russia
The 2023 State Balance planned a Nevgidromet plant for 4,500 t a year of tungsten oxide, with a 2025 start and design output expected in 2027.

Nui Phao mine and product records ↗ Masan 2025 annual report ↗ Russia 2023 State Balance ↗

05

Outputs: W and WC powders

Tungsten and tungsten-carbide powders

Hydrogen converts tungsten oxide into tungsten-metal powder (W). Carbon is added to make tungsten-carbide powder (WC). Powder size, purity and carbon content affect the finished material.

Tungsten powder
Used for dense metal parts, electrical contacts, wire and high-temperature components.
Tungsten-carbide powder
Combined with a binder metal and sintered to make hard cutting and wear-resistant parts.
Zhangyuan · 2025
Produced 12,277 t of tungsten powder and 7,742 t of tungsten-carbide powder.
China Tungsten High-Tech
Started an ultrafine tungsten-carbide-powder line at Zhuzhou and automated grinding and blending at Chenzhou.

Powder plant details

Powder output, ownership and recent operating events

Buffalo Tungsten · DepewNew York, United States Operating
Owner
Sandvik acquired Buffalo Tungsten on 1 December 2023.
Products
Tungsten-metal powder and tungsten-carbide powder.
Feed
The powder process begins with APT and tungsten oxide supplied through the group. Those intermediates can come from mined concentrate or scrap.
Latest certification
The Depew plant received ISO 9001 certification in 2025.

ReportCompany, process and timeline ↗

United States processor networkSeven companies at eight sites 2021 register
Depew, New York
Buffalo Tungsten and Niagara Refining.
Towanda, Pennsylvania
Global Tungsten & Powders.
Fallon, Nevada and Huntsville, Alabama
Kennametal.
Other listed sites
Chem-Met in Clinton, Maryland; Elmet Technologies in Lewiston, Maine; and Tundra Companies in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

ReportUSGS 2021 processor table ↗

Umicore Specialty Powders · GrenobleFrance Operating
Owner and operator
Umicore Specialty Powders France, part of the Umicore group, operates the site.
Products
Tungsten-metal powder and tungsten-carbide powder, as well as cobalt and mixed-alloy powders.
2024 activity
1,054 t across all company products, compared with 997 t in 2023. The company exported 84% of goods sales.
September 2025 event
A reaction occurred while 1,913 kg of tungsten powder and carbon black were mixed. Less than 200 kg oxidised. The plant restarted with a 1,750 kg batch after immediate safety work.
Latest status
A July 2026 French regulator inspection confirms production remained active and required six stock-control corrections.

Reports2025 incident inspection ↗July 2026 inspection ↗2024 accounts ↗

06

Outputs: tools, parts, wire and alloys

Finished products

Manufacturers press and sinter carbide powders, form tungsten metal, or add tungsten through the steel route. The result is a tool, component, wire, alloy or chemical product ready for industrial use.

Reported finished-product output in China

National and company figures for 2025

Producer or groupReported outputBasis
China Tungsten Industry Association ↗64,000 t cemented carbide; 160 billion m fine tungsten wirePreliminary national figure
China Tungsten High-Tech ↗16,300 t cemented carbideCompany production
Zhangyuan Tungsten ↗3,181 t cemented carbideCompany production

Main product routes

Material form, finished form and useful property

Material routeFinished formsMain property
Tungsten carbideCutting inserts, drill bits and wear partsHardness and wear resistance
Tungsten metalDense parts, contacts, heating parts and wireDensity, heat resistance and electrical performance
Ferro-tungstenTool steels and high-temperature alloysHardness and strength at high temperature
Tungsten compoundsCatalysts, pigments and specialist chemicalsChemical and surface properties
07

Outputs: factory scrap and used products

Industrial use

Tungsten is most important where tools and parts must remain hard under heat and pressure. Demand therefore follows metalworking, mining, construction, transport, aerospace, energy, electronics and defence activity.

Where tungsten is used

Estimated world first use · 2016

65%Carbide products
Cutting, drilling and wear parts used in metalworking, mining, construction, and oil and gas
17%Steels and superalloys
Tool steels and high-temperature parts used in manufacturing, transport, aerospace and energy
10%Metal and powder products
Dense alloys, electrical contacts and heating parts used in electronics, aerospace, defence and energy
8%Chemicals and other uses
Catalysts, pigments and specialist compounds used in chemicals, coatings and industrial processes

World use model ↗USGS uses and substitutes ↗

Japan: tungsten used and shipped

Figures reported by industry-association members

Tungsten powder shipped

Full year 2025 · tonnes of powder

3,897.5 t

24.9% more than in 2024

Tungsten metal used

Jan–Jun 2026 · weight used by members

870,101 kg

16.2% less than a year earlier

Tungsten carbide used

Jan–Jun 2026 · weight used by members

1,741,569 kg

4.9% less than a year earlier

Japan tungsten association shipments ↗ Japan tool association use ↗

Other signs of industrial demand

Figures for China, Japan, the EU and the US

China · Jun 2026 ↗Combined tungsten–molybdenum industry index: 57.8. Near-term index: 79.4, down 2.2 points from May. Price index: 202.4.
South Korea · Apr 2026 ↗The official unitless tungsten supply-stabilisation index fell from 12.59 in December 2024 to 0.16. It combines price, world supply and use, concentration, and Korean import data.
Japan · May 2026 ↗Carbide-tool sales were ¥34.8 billion, 24.4% higher than in May 2025. Stocks were 64.6 million pieces, 26.2% lower.
EU · Jan–May 2026 ↗Machinery output, with 2021 equal to 100: 99.2 in January, 99.5 in February, 99.2 in March, 100.6 in April and 100.5 in May. April and May are provisional.
US · Jun 2026 ↗Output, with 2017 equal to 100: motor vehicles 110.1; aerospace 96.6; machinery 94.2; primary metals 100.8; electronics 136.5; electrical equipment 100.1; chemicals 101.6; mining 124.2; construction supplies 100.9; defence and space 117.1. June figures are preliminary.

Where tungsten-containing products are used

World end use in 2016 and EU27 use in 2020

World · estimated 2016 end use

IndustryTungstenShare
Transport33,500 t34.3%
Mining and construction20,200 t20.7%
Industrial equipment10,500 t10.7%
Energy9,600 t9.8%
Defence7,900 t8.1%
Consumer durables6,300 t6.4%
Other consumer, medical and industrial uses9,700 t9.9%
Published total97,800 t100%

Shares use the stated total of 97,800 t. The seven amounts add to 97,700 t.

EU27 · modelled 2020 use

ApplicationShare
Milling and cutting tools31%
Mining and construction tools14%
Other wear-resistant tools13%
Catalysts and pigments14%
Lighting and electronics0%*
High-speed steel14%
Aeronautics and energy14%
Tungsten in products used in the EU12,410 t

* Rounded chart value. European Commission study ↗

World end-use model ↗

08

Outputs: recovered powder, chemicals and alloy feed

Recycling

Factory scrap and used products return by different routes. Clean carbide can return directly as powder. Chemical treatment can return tungsten to APT, oxide or powder. Alloy scrap can return through steelmaking.

Direct recovery
Carbide powder of the same composition
Chemical recovery
APT, oxide or powder production
Melting
Ferro-tungsten, tool steel and alloys

Recycling figures

World · 2016

Modelled
35%

Share of industrial tungsten input from scrap

108,500 t of tungsten used: 71,000 from mined material, 29,000 from used products and 8,500 from factory scrap

30% of tungsten in end-of-life products was recycled

Tungsten industry paper ↗

EU27 · 2020

Modelled
  1. 9,960 tof tungsten collected for treatment
  2. 5,760 tof tungsten sent to recycling plants
  3. 4,540 tof usable tungsten recovered
European Commission study ↗

Japan · 2021

Modelled
  1. 7,236 tof tungsten used to make carbide tools and special steel
  2. About 2,400 tof tungsten recycled inside Japan
JOGMEC study ↗

Recycling routes

The route depends on the scrap's form, cleanliness and composition

Scroll for full table

RouteSuitable materialOutputMain operating features
Direct recovery, including zinc reclaimClean, sorted cemented-carbide scrap with a known compositionPowder with the same composition as the inputAbout 4 kWh/kg in the cited carbide comparison. Reported conversion-cost saving: 20–35% for two carbide grades.
Chemical recoveryMixed, impure, hard or soft scrapAPT, ammonium metatungstate, oxide, tungsten metal or tungsten carbideAccepts more scrap types and can return virgin-equivalent material, but uses more energy and chemicals and makes more waste. The cited virgin chemical route used about 12 kWh/kg.
MeltingTungsten steels and superalloysAlloy meltThe scrap composition must suit the destination alloy.

Recycling process and cost comparisons ↗

Recycling rates by year and productEU27 history and world product estimates

EU27 · modelled rates, 2016–2020

Measure20162017201820192020
Old scrap in manufacturing input26%29%32%32%34%
Tungsten recovered from collected end-of-life products41%42%43%43%46%
Collected material sent to recycling52%53%55%55%58%

World · estimated end-of-life rates by product

Product groupEstimated rate
All carbide products46%
Carbide cutting tools55%
Other carbide groups40%
Steels and superalloys15%
Metal and powder products22%
Chemicals and other uses5%

The EU rows use three different denominators: manufacturing input, tungsten in collected end-of-life products, and material collected for treatment. The product figures are industry estimates from the cited publication period.

European Commission study ↗World product estimates ↗

4 vs 12 kWh/kgEnergy used to recover tungsten carbide with zinc, compared with making it from mined material by the chemical route
20–35%Lower processing cost reported when recycled powder was used in two carbide grades
Other materialsMolybdenum-, niobium- and titanium-based carbides, ceramics, cermets and tool steels can replace some tungsten, but often not all of it

Recycling process source ↗ Substitution source ↗

↔

Across the supply chain

Policy, prices and trade

Governments shape supply through mine rules, export controls, funding and stockpiles. Markets price each material form separately, while trade data track the products that cross borders.

Government policy

Mine rules, export controls, public funding, stockpiles and recycling measures

Why governments act

China produced 78.8% of estimated mine supply in 2025. Industry cannot use concentrate directly; refining, powder production and component manufacturing must follow. Governments therefore target mines, exports, processing capacity, stockpiles and recycling.

Supply-chain issueGovernment response
Control of mines and reservesMineral laws, mine licences, output quotas and state reserves
Limits on cross-border supplyExport licences and controlled-product lists
Concentrated mining and processingFunding for new mines, refineries and powder plants
Short-term supply disruptionEmergency stockpiles
Recovery from factory scrap and used productsRecycling targets and support

Government measures

Laws, mine controls, trade rules, funding, stockpiles and recycling

ChinaMineral Resources Law
1 Jul 2025Revised law took effect

China's revised Mineral Resources Law took effect on 1 July 2025. Rules effective from 15 June 2026 extend planning and output controls to processing and allow limits on operators of designated strategic minerals.

Mineral Resources Law ↗ Implementing rules ↗
ChinaMine quota
114,000 / 58,0002024 full year / first 2025 batch

China capped 2024 output at 114,000 standard tonnes. An issuer reported a first 2025 batch of 58,000, down from 62,000 a year earlier. The quota covers concentrate adjusted to 65% WO3; it is a legal limit, not reported mine output.

2024 national quota ↗ 2025 first batch ↗
ChinaExport licences
4 Feb 2025Licences became mandatory

China began requiring export licences on 4 February 2025 for specified APT, tungsten oxide, tungsten carbide, tungsten-metal products, high-density alloys and related production technology.

Export-control decision ↗ Product guidance ↗
European UnionCritical Raw Materials Act
10% / 40% / 25%2030 extraction / processing / recycling benchmarks

The EU lists tungsten as a strategic raw material. By 2030 it aims to extract 10%, process 40% and recycle 25% of its strategic-material demand, and to limit dependence on any one non-EU country to 65% at each processing stage.

Regulation 2024/1252 ↗
United StatesCritical mineral and mine funding
$6.2 millionPilot Mountain award · 22 Jul 2025

The United States lists tungsten as critical and ranks its supply chain among the highest-risk. A $6.2 million Defense Production Act award funds a pre-feasibility study at Pilot Mountain, Nevada, one of three US tungsten-sourcing awards since 2024.

USGS critical-mineral list ↗ Defense Department award ↗
United StatesTariffs and stockpile
50%Tariff on several tungsten products from China

The United States raised tariffs on several Chinese tungsten products to 50% at the end of 2024. It has recorded no commercial mine output since 2015. Its 2025 stockpile plan allowed purchases of 2,041 t of tungsten and sales of 499 t in ores and concentrates.

USGS market and stockpile summary ↗
JapanState stockpile
Tungsten includedRare-metal stockpile programme

Japan holds tungsten in its state rare-metal stockpile.

Japan stockpile programme ↗
JapanProcessing support
¥7.5 billionGovernment support approved 18 Mar 2026

Japan approved ¥7.5 billion for new tungsten-powder and carbide-powder equipment at Allied Materials. The company plans to invest ¥15.9 billion, raise capacity by about 50% and start production in the first half of its 2028 financial year.

Approved supply plan ↗ Company investment plan ↗
South KoreaCritical-mineral strategy
54 → 100 daysPortfolio stockpile target

South Korea includes tungsten among 33 critical minerals, but not among its ten strategic-core minerals. By 2030 it aims to raise portfolio stockpiles from 54 to 100 days of supply and recycling from 2% to 20%.

South Korea industry ministry ↗

Prices by material form

Concentrate, APT, ferro-tungsten, powders and scrap use different units and delivery terms

Concentrate

Concentrate with 65% WO3, held in China

MB-W-0002

Chinese yuan per tonne of concentrate

4 Feb 2026
620,000–640,000
11 Mar 2026
1,000,000–1,050,000
24 Jun 2026
500,000–525,000
−18.7%change in range midpoint
4 Feb–24 Jun

Ammonium paratungstate (APT)

At least 88.5% WO3, loaded for export in China

MB-W-0003

US dollars per MTU; 1 MTU = 10 kg WO3

4 Feb 2026
1,500–1,550
24 Jun 2026
2,600–3,250
+91.8%change in range midpoint
4 Feb–24 Jun

Each product has its own market, price unit and delivery terms.

Prices on 24 June ↗ Prices on 4 February ↗

Additional product prices

Each product uses its own market unit

Scroll for full table

ProductDelivery pointDatePublished rangePublisher
Concentrate, 50–70% WO3 ↗Delivered to the buyer's port, worldwide29 May–29 Jun 2026$2,500–2,800/MTU WO3Fastmarkets
APT, 88.5% WO3 ↗Delivered to Rotterdam or Baltimore; no import duty19 Jun 2026$2,900–3,210/MTU WO3Fastmarkets
Ferro-tungsten, at least 75% W ↗Loaded for export in China4 Feb 2026$196–200/kg of tungstenFastmarkets
Black tungsten concentrate, 65% ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 411,000–415,000/tAntaike
White tungsten concentrate, 65% ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 410,000–411,000/tAntaike
Black tungsten concentrate, 55% ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 410,000–411,000/tAntaike
White tungsten concentrate, 55% ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 408,000–410,000/tAntaike
APT, 88.5% ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 600,000–610,000/tAntaike
Ferro-tungsten, W70 ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 657,000–660,000/tAntaike
Tungsten-carbide powder, 2–10 µm ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 905–925/kgAntaike
Tungsten powder, 99.7% ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 965–975/kgAntaike
Used tungsten drill bits ↗China7 Aug 2026CNY 625–645/kgAntaike
Used tungsten-carbide inserts ↗At a US processor30 Jan 2026$33–37/lbArgus

Public price history, 2022–2025

Monthly observations, annual averages and annual ranges from one USGS series

USGS monthly reports ↗

In 2025 the annual concentrate average rose 58.5%; the APT numeric average rose 54.7%.

Monthly and annual price history, 2022–2025One table · 48 monthly observations

Concentrate is in US dollars per metric tonne. APT follows the annual numeric series; its unit label differs by year.

Scroll for full table

Month2022202320242025
ConcentrateAPTConcentrateAPTConcentrateAPTConcentrateAPT
January17,840.41328.7517,133.03337.5017,101.89305.0019,635.72331.3333
February18,566.11337.5017,562.50340.2517,176.40305.0019,770.79346.50
March18,548.77347.2017,127.02334.3517,424.93305.0019,368.13370.00
April18,565.87350.8716,952.55327.5018,240.93309.2919,821.27377.22
May16,921.76350.5517,184.83327.5020,913.90339.7522,316.60404.44
June16,250.99347.9016,888.57327.5020,556.66351.8823,886.88445.00
July16,273.35345.8316,514.95322.7418,390.42337.5025,128.48476.25
August17,160.95342.5016,549.22322.5018,797.71330.0029,717.09493.88
September16,664.92341.6716,588.34317.5019,519.95331.2538,935.50583.62
October15,467.04338.8116,404.29310.0019,680.16332.5038,999.78633.06
November15,157.87337.5016,589.30305.0019,745.31332.5045,194.05726.25
December16,104.95337.5017,009.32305.0019,561.52329.5057,247.98861.88
Annual average16,960.25342.215016,875.33323.111718,925.82325.764230,001.86504.1194
Monthly range15,157.87–18,566.11328.75–350.8716,404.29–17,562.50305.00–340.2517,101.89–20,913.90305.00–351.8819,368.13–57,247.98331.3333–861.88

USGS monthly workbooks ↗

Trade and demand

Product-level trade flows and current industrial indicators

Current pattern

China's domestic concentrate and export APT prices diverged sharply: between 4 February and 24 June 2026, the 65% concentrate midpoint fell 18.7% while the 88.5% APT midpoint rose 91.8%. Japan shipped more powder in 2025, but its tool makers used less tungsten metal and carbide in the first half of 2026. In 2025 the EU imported more tungstates from China and less oxide, carbide, powder and scrap.

EU27 imports from China

Full-year trade in 2024–2025 and partial 2026 reporting

Annual data ↗Monthly data ↗

Scroll for full table

Product · customs codeFull yearPartial 2026 reporting
2024, kg2025, kgMass change2025 valueValue changeJan–May 2025, kg2026 returned, kgMonths returned
Tungstates · 28418000397,531848,335+113.4%€28.164m+149.5%360,575119,6534 of 5
Oxides & hydroxides · 28259040294,277241,858−17.8%€7.897m−7.6%201,59038,6954 of 5
Tungsten carbide · 28499030638,037339,803−46.7%€14.473m−41.7%174,636188,7755 of 5
Unwrought or simply sintered · 8101940068,80165,728−4.5%€3.544m−17.4%32,71015,7795 of 5
Worked bars & flat products · 81019910116,659130,909+12.2%€9.397m+13.0%43,89762,1535 of 5
Other tungsten articles · 81019990148,247197,552+33.3%€21.164m+30.8%77,60484,0955 of 5
Tungsten powders · 81011000113,15159,005−47.9%€2.328m−44.9%———
Tungsten wire · 8101960051,75151,970+0.4%€7.179m+2.0%———
Waste & scrap · 8101970045,08226,932−40.3%€1.114m−34.0%———

The 2026 tungstate and oxide totals cover four returned months. The other reported 2026 totals cover five months.

How customs systems group tungsten productsChina, United States and European Union codes

Scroll for full table

ProductWorld HS codeChinaUnited StatesEuropean Union
Ore and concentrate26110026110000 combines both2611003000 ore; 2611006000 concentrate26110000 combines both
APT and other tungstates28418028418010 APT; 28418040 ammonium metatungstate; 28418090 other2841800010 ammonium; 0020 calcium; 0050 other28418000 combines all tungstates
Oxides and hydroxides28259028259012 tungsten trioxide; 28259019 other tungsten oxides or hydroxides2825903000 tungsten oxides28259040 tungsten oxides and hydroxides
Metal powder81011081011000810110000081011000
Tungsten carbide28499028499020284990300028499030
Unwrought metal81019481019400810194000081019400
Wire81019681019600810196000081019600
Other metal articles81019981019910 worked bars and flat products; 81019990 other8101991000 bars and similar; 8101998000 other81019910 worked bars and flat products; 81019990 other
Metal waste and scrap81019781019700810197000081019700

Finished carbide tools are classified by function. Carbide, cermet and tool scrap can appear outside the metal-waste line. China's export rule follows technical product descriptions.

China tariff ↗US tariff ↗EU tariff ↗

China's reported exports before the 2025 controlsExports to the world at six-digit HS level

Scroll for full table

Product group2023 net kg2023 value2024 net kg2024 value
All tungstates · 2841802,733,615.790$80.768m2,779,974.041$85.708m
Unwrought or simply sintered · 810194967,952$38.442m1,145,859$50.712m
Other tungsten articles · 8101991,383,712.639$94.600m1,204,944.443$87.530m

Values are FOB and weights are net goods weight. The six-digit tungstate group combines APT with other tungstates. Export licences follow the technical product definitions.

UN Comtrade 2024 ↗

United States imports and exports, 2025

Tonnes of tungsten contained in the products

USGS monthly report ↗
Product groupImportsExports
Ore, concentrate, chemicals, metal and carbide8,260 t3,470 t
Waste and scrap3,810 t1,510 t

Country and product records

National series keep their stated product form, unit and period

Thai Nguyen's gross series combines tungsten and products made from tungsten: 14.6, 17.6, 18.9, 20.4 and 16.6 thousand tonnes in 2020–2024.

Country data in detail

Production, product and reporting records behind the headline estimates

ChinaMine quota and 2024 industry output

China measures mine concentrate in standard tonnes. One standard tonne is concentrate adjusted to 65% WO3. The reporting definition includes wolframite and scheelite and excludes middlings, tungsten slime and externally purchased concentrate.

2024 mine quota

AreaStandard tonnesShare
Jiangxi40,30035.4%
Hunan30,00026.3%
Henan14,10012.4%
Other provinces29,60026.0%
National quota114,000100.0%

Industry output

Year and sourceMine concentrateAPTCemented carbideOther output
2024 · CTIA130,500 standard t129,000 t58,000 t17,200 t tungsten materials; 150bn m fine wire

The 2024 quota is a legal limit, not output. Small associated mines can report production without receiving an allocation. Separate 2024 filings list 128,000 t of APT and 60,000 t of cemented carbide.

2024 quota ↗Reporting definition ↗

RussiaState Balance extraction, concentrate and regional production

Russia reports ore extraction, gross concentrate and WO3 contained in concentrate as separate measures.

National State Balance

YearWO3 extractedFrom old mine wasteGross concentrateWO3 in concentrate
20215,318 t2,285 t5,243 t2,703 t
20224,745 t1,957 t4,627 t2,328 t
20233,860 t1,026 t3,854 t1,931 t

2023 company groups

Company groupWO3 extractedWO3 in concentrate
Primorsky GOK / AIR1,770 t1,538 t
Zakamensk1,061 t231 t
Rusolovo / Seligdar1,001 t162 t
Other28 t0 t

At 1 January 2024, the Russian State Balance held 945,400 t WO3 in A+B+C1 reserves and 370,200 t in C2. These Russian reserve classes are not the same as the USGS reserve table.

2023 State Balance report ↗

Portugal and SpainNational concentrate and contained-WO3 histories

Portugal · gross tungsten concentrate

YearTonnesStatus
2020924.942Published
2021908.294Provisional
2022814.663Provisional
2023728.575Provisional
2024803.747Provisional

Spain · WO3 in saleable product

YearWO3W equivalentBGS W
2020300 t237.9 t238 t
2021811 t643.1 t643 t
2022741 t587.6 t588 t
2023897 t711.3 t711 t
20241,041.150 t825.632 t840 t

Portugal's figure is gross concentrate, not contained tungsten. Spain reports one operating unit and 1,893 t of saleable product at 55% WO3 in 2024.

Portugal data ↗Spain data ↗

Bolivia and RwandaFine-content production and gross-export records

Bolivia · fine-content wolfram

YearTonnesPrivateCooperatives
20201,698.946——
20211,970.783——
20221,712.775——
20231,897.827——
20242,127.4481,122.1831,005.265
20251,995.7031,310.230685.472

Rwanda · fiscal-year gross wolfram exports

Year ended JuneGross exportsGross × 0.606BGS W
20201,577.811 t956.154 t956 t
20212,113.315 t1,280.669 t1,281 t
20222,983.412 t1,807.948 t1,808 t
20232,946.771 t1,785.743 t1,786 t
20242,619.059 t1,587.150 t1,587 t
20252,597.67 t——

Bolivia marks the 2020–2025 series as preliminary and calls the measure ‘fine content.’ BGS converts Rwanda's fiscal gross exports with a factor of 0.606 and rounds the result.

Bolivia 2025 yearbook ↗Rwanda 2024–25 report ↗

Australia and North KoreaNational series, fiscal estimates and compiler revisions

Australia · calendar contained W

YearContained WRecord
2021250 tReassessed
2022230 tNational estimate
2023520 tNational estimate
2024More than 1,000 tEQR, Group 6 and assumed minor Kara output

North Korea · USGS estimate revisions

USGS edition2022202320242025
MCS 20241,520 t1,700 t——
MCS 20251,520 t1,600 t1,700 t—
MCS 2026——1,900 t2,000 t

Australia's separate fiscal product series reports 134,000 MTU in 2023–24, 136,000 MTU in 2024–25, an estimated 131,000 MTU in 2025–26 and a forecast 132,000 MTU in 2026–27. One MTU is 10 kg WO3. All North Korean values above are estimates.

Geoscience Australia ↗Australia fiscal series ↗USGS MCS 2026 ↗

—

Terms and sources

Short definitions and links to the data

Units and materials
t
A metric tonne: 1,000 kg.
W
The chemical symbol for tungsten.
Contained W
The weight of tungsten inside ore, concentrate or another product.
WO3
Tungsten trioxide. One tonne of WO3 is not one tonne of tungsten.
APT
Ammonium paratungstate, a refined tungsten compound used to make oxide and powder.
WC
Tungsten carbide, a very hard material used in cutting and wear-resistant tools.
MTU
A unit equal to 10 kg of WO3.
CNY / USD
Chinese yuan / US dollars.
FOB / CIF
FOB covers delivery onto a ship at the export port. CIF also covers freight and insurance to the destination port.
Status labels
Estimated
An estimate rather than a final measured total.
Calculated
A result calculated from the figures shown on the page.
Publisher price
A published estimate of the market price. Individual sales may differ.
Modelled
A figure calculated from several inputs for the stated year.
Operating
The mine or plant is producing or processing material.
Starting up / restart / before construction
The site is not yet in regular production.
Main sources
  1. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 — Tungsten
  2. China MOFCOM / GACC — tungsten export controls
  3. European Union — Critical Raw Materials Act
  4. Japan METI — important-mineral supply plans
  5. Fastmarkets — tungsten prices on 24 June 2026
  6. Eurostat Comext — EU27 imports from China
  7. JTMIA — tungsten product shipment table
  8. JTA — cemented-carbide tool material inputs
  9. ITIA-hosted open paper — Recycling of tungsten
  10. European Commission — 2020 tungsten material system