Tungsten
About Tungsten
Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal and is essential for cemented carbide tools that enable modern manufacturing and mining. China controls approximately 80% of global production, creating significant supply vulnerability. Tungsten's extreme density and hardness make it irreplaceable in armor-piercing munitions and ballistic applications critical for national defense.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- W
- Atomic Number
- 74
- Category
- Refractory Metal
- Criticality Level
- High
- Supply Risk
- High
- Top Producer
- China
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Tungsten In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Tungsten value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Tungsten across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Tungsten supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Tungsten is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Tungsten products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Tungsten.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Tungsten.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Tungsten, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Tungsten pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Tungsten value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Tungsten worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Tungsten.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.