All fact sheets · The Strata Memo
Tungsten
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Chemical details
- State at room conditions
- Solid
- Melting point
- 3,695 K (3,422 °C)
- Boiling point
- 5,828 K (5,555 °C)
- Density
- 19.3 g/cm³
- Common oxidation states
- +6
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.36
- Atomic radius
- 210 pm
- First ionization energy
- 7.98 eV
- Discovered
- 1783
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine, PubChem, Periodic Table of Elements (element Tungsten) (current at retrieval)
On the USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Figures: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (data release, public domain). Estimates are USGS's; check the USGS chapter for notes. Each panel names its source; full citations are in the methodology source register.
Overview
The headline numbers: how much the U.S. depends on imports and how concentrated supply is.
How much does the U.S. import?
of U.S. tungsten use was met by imports in 2025 (USGS net import reliance).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tungsten (February 2026)
Did you know?
The tungsten ore wolframite probably gets its name from the German "wolf" plus "rahm", glossed as "wolf soot".
Two sources; the second is less authoritative or covers it loosely. Verified 2026-10-26.
Sources: Wikipedia · Midwest Tungsten Service (Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA)
How concentrated is supply?
85% of world production comes from three countries (China, Vietnam, Kazakhstan). Highly concentrated.
Thirds of the bar: under 33%, 33 to 65%, 66% and over. Our own rule of thumb, not a USGS rating.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tungsten (February 2026)
Supply
Who produces it, where the reserves are, where U.S. imports come from, and how U.S. supply has moved.
Who has it, and who digs it?
Where it is produced, 2025
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| China | 79% |
| Vietnam | 4% |
| Kazakhstan | 3% |
| Korea, North | 2% |
| Russia | 2% |
| Bolivia | 2% |
Where the reserves are
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| China | 53% |
| Australia | 12% |
| Russia | 9% |
| Vietnam | 4% |
| Spain | 1% |
| Korea, North | 1% |
Share of the world total as printed by USGS (rounded). Production and reserves are different things: reserves are what is economic to mine. Hover or focus a bar for its value, or switch to the table view.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tungsten (February 2026)
Where U.S. imports come from
Choose a data set, then a view. A country keeps the same color in every chart on this page. Grey means other countries, or a country beyond the seven colors (always labeled). Hover or focus a mark for its value, or use the table view.
- China26%
- Germany14%
- Bolivia8%
- Vietnam8%
- Other countries44%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| China | 26% | 26.0% |
| Germany | 14% | 14.0% |
| Bolivia | 8% | 8.0% |
| Vietnam | 8% | 8.0% |
| Other countries | 44% | 44.0% |
Average share of U.S. imports of ores, concentrates, and other forms, 2021–24, as printed by USGS (rounded, so shares may not sum to 100). Other countries are USGS's own grouping.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tungsten (February 2026)
- Bolivia54% · $39.4M
- Portugal14% · $10.5M
- Spain14% · $10.4M
- Mongolia8% · $5.8M
- Rwanda6% · $4.2M
- Australia1% · $952K
- All other countries2% · $1.4M
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Bolivia | 54% · $39.4M | 54.3% |
| Portugal | 14% · $10.5M | 14.5% |
| Spain | 14% · $10.4M | 14.3% |
| Mongolia | 8% · $5.8M | 8.0% |
| Rwanda | 6% · $4.2M | 5.7% |
| Australia | 1% · $952K | 1.3% |
| All other countries | 2% · $1.4M | 1.9% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 2611; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
- China17% · $46.8M
- Germany15% · $42.3M
- Canada10% · $27.6M
- Japan10% · $26.3M
- Korea, South8% · $21.2M
- India7% · $18.7M
- All other countries33% · $90.6M
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| China | 17% · $46.8M | 17.1% |
| Germany | 15% · $42.3M | 15.5% |
| Canada | 10% · $27.6M | 10.1% |
| Japan | 10% · $26.3M | 9.6% |
| Korea, South | 8% · $21.2M | 7.8% |
| India | 7% · $18.7M | 6.8% |
| All other countries | 33% · $90.6M | 33.1% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 8101; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Price
Price, concentrate, average in-warehouse Rotterdam, dollars per dry metric ton unit of tungsten trioxide
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tungsten (February 2026)
Trade and tariffs
Tariff codes and the countries behind U.S. imports and exports.
Trade codes and tariffs
| HTS code | What it covers | Normal rate | Column 2 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2611 | Tungsten ores and concentrates | varies, 37.5¢/kg on tungsten content; Free | $1.10/kg on tungsten content |
| 8101 | Tungsten (wolfram) and articles thereof, including waste and scrap | 2.8% to 7% | 45% to 60% |
Rates from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC, saved 2026-10-26). The normal rate is column 1 general; column 2 applies to countries without normal trade relations. A range means different products under the code have different rates. Section 232, Section 301, emergency tariffs and antidumping or countervailing duties are set in separate notices and are not shown. Look up any code at hts.usitc.gov. These are the main codes for this mineral, not a complete list.
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, general and column 2 rates (edition current when saved)
U.S. trade by country
U.S. imports in 2025 by source country, code 8101
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| China | 17% · $46.8M |
| Germany | 15% · $42.3M |
| Canada | 10% · $27.6M |
| Japan | 10% · $26.3M |
| Korea, South | 8% · $21.2M |
| India | 7% · $18.7M |
U.S. exports in 2025 by destination, code 8101
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 28% · $42.0M |
| Canada | 21% · $31.6M |
| Germany | 10% · $15.2M |
| United Kingdom | 8% · $12.6M |
| China | 4% · $5.2M |
| Austria | 3% · $5.0M |
2611 Tungsten ores and concentrates
Top import sources Bolivia 54%, Portugal 14%, Spain 14%
Top export destinations Vietnam 89%, Belgium 11%, Indonesia 0%
8101 Tungsten (wolfram) & articles, incl waste & scrap
Top import sources China 17%, Germany 15%, Canada 10%
Top export destinations Mexico 28%, Canada 21%, Germany 10%
U.S. Census Bureau International Trade API, saved 2026-10-26. Imports are general imports (customs value) and exports are total exports, in U.S. dollars. Duty collected is Census's calculated duty on imports for consumption. Figures cover every 10-digit product under the code, so they can include goods beyond this mineral, and the duty shown is not split into Section 232, Section 301 or antidumping duties. Bars show the largest code for each direction. Group rows such as the EU or OECD are left out so no country is counted twice.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports and exports by HS code and country (calendar 2025, and January to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Value chain and risk
Where in the chain the bottlenecks sit, and what other governments and sources say about supply risk.
Value chain: where the bottlenecks are
Mining bottleneck
The United States has not mined tungsten commercially since 2015, and China is the world's leading producer, importer and consumer of tungsten concentrates. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Tungsten has not been mined commercially in the United States since 2015.”
“China continued to be the world’s leading producer, importer, and consumer of tungsten concentrates.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
Ore processing and primary recovery
The United States has not mined tungsten commercially since 2015; Defense Production Act Title III awards went to projects in Nevada, New Brunswick and Yukon. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Tungsten has not been mined commercially in the United States since 2015.”
“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.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
Refining and separation
Global Tungsten & Powders makes ammonium paratungstate (APT), tungsten oxide, tungsten metal powder and tungsten carbide at Towanda, Pennsylvania. (partly U.S.)
The source says
“In Towanda, Pennsylvania, in the United States, GTP produces ammonium paratungstate (APT), tungsten oxide, tungsten metal powder (WMP), tungsten carbide (WC), as well as semi-finished and finished parts and components.”
Source: Global Tungsten & Powders, About Us (company website) (2026-10-30)
Metal, alloy and chemical bottleneck
Seven U.S. companies can convert tungsten concentrates, ammonium paratungstate, oxide or scrap into metal powder, carbide powder or chemicals. (partly U.S.)
The source says
“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.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
China imposed new export controls on selected tungsten items in February 2025, and USGS says prices rose sharply through the year. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“in February 2025 China implemented new export controls on selected tungsten items.”
“As a result, prices rose sharply throughout 2025.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
Components and end use
About 60% of U.S. tungsten went into cemented carbide parts for cutting and wear-resistant uses. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“An estimated 60% of the tungsten consumed in the United States was used in cemented carbide parts for cutting and wear-resistant applications”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
Recycling
Secondary tungsten volumes are withheld as proprietary, so recycling's share cannot be stated. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“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.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
Pilot. Summaries are ours, from official pages; each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. “Bottleneck” (orange dot) is shown only where the quote shows one country dominating the stage or the United States relying on imports for it. “No sourced data yet” means we have not found a source, not that the stage is unproblematic.
Mines, plants and partners
Named facilities with their operators and locations, as each source describes them on the date shown. 5 sourced entries for Tungsten.
Mining
Nui Phao Mining Company (wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials)
Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam · Operating
The source says
“The Nui Phao mine, which is operated by Nui Phao Mining Company (“NPMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials, is situated within three communes (Hung Son, Ha Thuong, and Tan Linh) of Dai Tu district in Thai Nguyen province.”
“A suite of commercial product streams including Tungsten, Copper, Bismuth and Fluorspar concentrates which are either processed into value added products onsite (Tungsten and Bismuth) or sold as highend commodities”
“Products from Nui Phao are shipped to worldwide markets (including well established customer networks) from Quang Ninh Port”
Source: Masan High-Tech Materials, Nui Phao Mining Company (company website) (2026-10-30)
Almonty Industries
Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, South Korea · Operating
The source says
“Almonty today announced that it has received mining facility inspection certificates for the processing plant and crushing facilities at the Sangdong Mine (“Sangdong”) in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, South Korea.”
“Almonty’s Sangdong Processing Plant Receives Final Operational Certification — Phase I is Now Commercially Operational”
Source: Almonty Industries, Almonty Korea Tungsten project page (company website) (2026-10-30)
Ore processing and primary recovery
Nui Phao Mining Company (wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials)
Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam · Operating
The source says
“The Nui Phao mine, which is operated by Nui Phao Mining Company (“NPMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Masan High-Tech Materials, is situated within three communes (Hung Son, Ha Thuong, and Tan Linh) of Dai Tu district in Thai Nguyen province.”
“Modern mine plant and facilities, including crushing, grinding, thickening, flotation, leaching and gravity recovery facilities”
“A suite of commercial product streams including Tungsten, Copper, Bismuth and Fluorspar concentrates which are either processed into value added products onsite (Tungsten and Bismuth) or sold as highend commodities”
Source: Masan High-Tech Materials, Nui Phao Mining Company (company website) (2026-10-30)
Almonty Industries
Sangdong Mine, Gangwon Province, South Korea · Operating
The source says
“Almonty today announced the commencement of processing plant throughput operations at its Sangdong Mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea.”
“to its long-term offtake agreement (the “Agreement”) with Global Tungsten & Powders LLC (“GTP”)”
“, a member of Austria’s Plansee Group, covering tungsten concentrate produced from Phase I of the Company’s Sangdong Mine in South Korea.”
Source: Almonty Industries, Almonty Korea Tungsten project page (company website) (2026-10-30)
Refining and separation
Global Tungsten & Powders (GTP), part of the Plansee Group
Towanda, Pennsylvania, United States · Operating
The source says
“In Towanda, Pennsylvania, in the United States, GTP produces ammonium paratungstate (APT), tungsten oxide, tungsten metal powder (WMP), tungsten carbide (WC), as well as semi-finished and finished parts and components.”
“Global Tungsten & Powders is part of the Plansee Group”
Source: Global Tungsten & Powders, About Us (company website) (2026-10-30)
A curated list, not a complete register: it shows facilities we could confirm in a source page, and a missing name means we have not sourced it, not that it does not exist. Each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. Partnerships are listed only where the source states them.
Geopolitics and supply risk
Export controls by other countries
China put new export controls on selected tungsten items in February 2025, and tungsten prices rose sharply through 2025.
The source says
“in February 2025 China implemented new export controls on selected tungsten items”
“As a result, prices rose sharply throughout 2025.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
Who supplies it
China was the world's leading producer, importer and consumer of tungsten concentrates.
The source says
“China continued to be the world's leading producer, importer, and consumer of tungsten concentrates.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
U.S. tariffs and duties
USTR raised Section 301 tariffs on certain Chinese tungsten products to 25% from 1 January 2025; USGS's tungsten chapter reports 50%, the rate USTR applied to solar wafers and polysilicon.
The source says
“the rates for solar wafers and polysilicon will increase to 50 percent, and the rates for certain tungsten products will increase to 25 percent.”
“these tariff increases will take effect on january 1, 2025.”
Source: USTR press release, USTR Increases Tariffs Under Section 301 on Tungsten Products, Wafers, and Polysilicon, Concluding the Statutory Four-Year Review (2024-12)
U.S. policy and funding
Several tungsten projects in the United States and Canada received Defense Production Act Title III awards.
The source says
“multiple projects received awards under the Defense Production Act, Title III, including projects in Nevada, New Brunswick, and Yukon”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tungsten (2026-02)
Summaries are ours, from official pages. Each quoted passage is checked against the saved source page. This is a curated list for the edition shown, not a complete or current record of every measure.
Policy and funding
Federal items we track for this mineral, each linked to its original.
Policy timeline
Tagged by AI from federal sources; each links to the original. How we label.
Source: U.S. federal sources (Federal Register, Grants.gov, DOE, Regulations.gov, DFC), Policy items tagged for Tungsten (dates per item)
Federal awards already made
Fireweed Metals Corp. · Department of Defense · $15.8M obligated · started 2024-12-12
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Northcliff Resources Ltd. · Department of Defense · $15M obligated · started 2025-04-29
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Alaska Department of Natural Resources · Department of the Interior · $1.6M obligated · started 2026-03-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality · Department of the Interior · $145.3K obligated · started 2023-07-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
The 4 largest of 4 AI-tagged awards from USAspending (last 12 months, found by keyword; some are only loosely about this mineral). See all awards for Tungsten.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, USAspending.gov: spending by award (contracts and grants, last 12 months) (award start dates per item)
Data tables
The USGS figures behind the charts. Click a column heading to sort.
Tungsten: USGS tables
United States
| Measure | Unit | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption | percent | >50 | >50 |
| Production: Mine | metric tons | — | — |
| Production: Secondary | metric tons | W | W |
| Imports for consumption: Ores and concentrates | metric tons | 1,550 | 1,700 |
| Imports for consumption: Other forms | metric tons | 8,730 | 10,000 |
| Exports: Ores and concentrates | metric tons | 1,410 | 1,400 |
| Exports: Other forms | metric tons | 3,480 | 3,300 |
| Shipments from Government stockpile: Concentrate | metric tons | NA | NA |
| Shipments from Government stockpile: Other forms | metric tons | NA | NA |
| Consumption: Reported, concentrate | metric tons | W | W |
| Consumption: Apparent, all forms | metric tons | W | W |
| Price, concentrate, average in-warehouse Rotterdam, dollars per dry metric ton unit of tungsten trioxide | dollars per dry metric ton unit | 252 | 380 |
| Stocks, industry, concentrate and other forms, yearend | metric tons | W | W |
World production (metric tons; top 6 of 12, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 67,000 | 67,000 | 79% |
| Vietnam | 3,400 | 3,000 | 4% |
| Kazakhstan | — | 2,400 | 3% |
| Korea, North | 1,900 | 2,000 | 2% |
| Russia | 1,500 | 2,000 | 2% |
| Bolivia | 1,700 | 1,700 | 2% |
| Other countries | 1,700 | 2,400 | 3% |
World total 2025: 85,000 metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
World reserves (metric tons; top 6 of 12, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| China | 2,500,000 |
| Australia | 570,000 |
| Russia | 400,000 |
| Vietnam | 170,000 |
| Spain | 66,000 |
| Korea, North | 29,000 |
| Other countries | 950,000 |
U.S. import sources: Ores, concentrates, and other forms (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| China | 26 |
| Germany | 14 |
| Bolivia | 8 |
| Vietnam | 8 |
| Other countries | 44 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tungsten (February 2026)