Prospector Trails
Minerals/Technology metals
Tungsten is the hardest-wearing industrial metal: cemented carbide cutting tools, mining and drilling bits, armour-piercing munitions, electronics and high-temperature alloys. It is a classic defence-critical metal.
01 · Where it's mined
Mine output was about 85 kt in 2025, with China producing about 67 kt (about 79%). Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Russia, North Korea, Bolivia and Rwanda follow. Reserves are about 4.7 Mt, over half in China. China also dominates processing into APT and powders.
Mine production, W content, 2025. Columns on the globe show each country's share.
02 · A century of output
03 · Where it goes
Tungsten ores and concentrates, 2024, by value
Arcs run from exporter to importer; thicker means more value. CEPII BACI reconciled trade data.
04 · What it's used for
Demand follows manufacturing, mining and defence. Recycling of carbide scrap supplies a large share.
05 · Who calls it critical
Critical for the EU (strategic), US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Korea and China. China added tungsten to its export control list in February 2025, and from 1 January 2027 US defence contractors may not use Chinese tungsten.
06 · Mines to know
Spikes mark mines with output in open data; height follows reported output. Where a public source says where a mine's product goes, an arc runs to that plant.
Every tungsten mine and project, by countryThe detail
Mine output was about 85 kt in 2025, with China producing about 67 kt (about 79%). Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Russia, North Korea, Bolivia and Rwanda follow. Reserves are about 4.7 Mt, over half in China. China also dominates processing into APT and powders.
Demand follows manufacturing, mining and defence. Recycling of carbide scrap supplies a large share.
Critical for the EU (strategic), US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Korea and China. China added tungsten to its export control list in February 2025, and from 1 January 2027 US defence contractors may not use Chinese tungsten.
Tungsten has not been mined commercially in the United States since 2015. There were seven U.S. companies that have the capability to convert tungsten concentrates, ammonium paratungstate (APT), tungsten oxide, and (or) scrap to tungsten metal powder, tungsten carbide powder, and (or) tungsten chemicals. An estimated 60% of the tungsten consumed in the United States was used in cemented carbide parts for cutting and wear-resistant applications, primarily in the construction, metalworking, mining, and oil- and gas-drilling industries. The remainder was used to make various alloys and specialty steels; electrodes, filaments, wires, and other components for electrical, electronic, heating, lighting, and welding applications; and chemicals for various applications.
China continued to be the world’s leading producer, importer, and consumer of tungsten concentrates. China’s consumption and imports increased significantly in 2025. At the end of 2024, the United States, under section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, increased tariffs to 50% on several tungsten products from China, and in February 2025 China implemented new export controls on selected tungsten items. As a result, prices rose sharply throughout 2025. Rotterdam prices increased from $266 to $551 per metric ton unit for 65% concentrate and from $331 to $675 per metric ton unit for APT. World mine production increased, especially from the start of production at the Boguty deposit in Kazakhstan. In Canada and the United States, multiple projects received awards under the Defense Production Act, Title III, including projects in Nevada, New Brunswick, and Yukon. In October, a joint venture between Kazakhstan and the United States to develop tungsten resources was announced.
Potential substitutes for cemented tungsten carbides include cemented carbides based on molybdenum carbide, niobium carbide, or titanium carbide; ceramics; ceramic-metallic composites (cermets); and tool steels. Most of these options reduce rather than replace the amount of tungsten used. Potential substitutes for other applications are as follows: molybdenum for certain tungsten mill products; molybdenum steels for tungsten steels, although most molybdenum steels still contain tungsten; lighting based on carbon nanotube filaments, induction technology, and light-emitting diodes for lighting based on tungsten electrodes or filaments; depleted uranium or lead for tungsten or tungsten alloys in applications requiring high density or the ability to shield radiation; and depleted uranium alloys or hardened steel for cemented tungsten carbides or tungsten alloys in armor-piercing projectiles. In some applications, substitution would result in increased cost or a loss in product performance.
The estimated quantity of secondary tungsten produced and the amount consumed from secondary sources by processors and end users in 2025 were withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.
World tungsten resources are geographically widespread. China ranked first in the world in tungsten resources and reserves. Significant tungsten resources have been identified on every continent except Antarctica.