0 t
U.S. tungsten mine production in 2025. Tungsten has not been mined commercially in the United States since 2015.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026Why Tungsten
Why Tungsten?
Critical for defense and industrial applications, yet global supply is dominated by China. Rebuilding a domestic U.S. supply strengthens national security, supports key industries, and reduces dependence on foreign sources.
Defense & National Security
Essential for armor-piercing munitions, tank armor, and rocket components. In 2025, tungsten projects in Nevada, New Brunswick and Yukon received U.S. Defense Production Act Title III awards.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
Supply Chain Vulnerability
China accounted for 79% of world mine production in 2025 (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026) and continues to restrict exports, creating critical supply chain risks for Western nations.
Rising Demand
China's tungsten consumption and imports increased significantly in 2025, and about 60% of U.S. tungsten consumption goes into cemented carbide parts for construction, metalworking, mining and oil and gas drilling (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026).
Industrial Applications
Critical for machine tools, drilling equipment, and wear-resistant materials.
Tungsten Supply & Demand
Tungsten is one of the world’s most strategic and supply-constrained minerals. With the highest melting point of any metal and exceptional strength, it is essential for defense systems, aerospace components, semiconductor manufacturing, drilling and mining tools, and electrical and electronic components.
Yet global supply is dominated by China, which accounted for 79% of world mine production in 2025 (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026) and continues to restrict exports, tightening an already fragile supply chain. Outside of China, production is limited, and few new projects are coming online.
China's own consumption and imports increased significantly in 2025 (USGS), while governments move to secure supply for defense and industry. This widening supply-demand gap has put renewed focus on domestic tungsten sources in North America, especially past-producing districts, where historical production records give explorers a head start.
The supply imperative
Why U.S. Tungsten, why now
79%
of world tungsten mine production came from China in 2025 (67,000 of 85,000 t).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 20262x
Tungsten APT prices roughly doubled in 2025, from US$331 to US$675 per metric ton unit (Rotterdam), after China's February 2025 export controls on selected tungsten items and U.S. tariffs of 50% on several Chinese tungsten products.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026From January 1, 2027
Pentagon ban
U.S. defense acquisition rules bar tungsten mined or produced in China, Russia, North Korea or Iran from Pentagon supply chains, subject to limited exceptions.
Source: DFARS 225.7018 and 252.225-7052Tungsten in Defense Systems
USGS lists tungsten alloys among the materials used in armor-piercing projectiles. In fiscal 2025 the U.S. National Defense Stockpile listed potential acquisitions of 2,041 t of tungsten, and from January 1, 2027, U.S. defense acquisition rules restrict tungsten mined or produced in China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.
Sources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026; DFARS 252.225-7052.
May 20, 2026
Western Star Resources ($WSR | $WSRIF): Building North America’s Tungsten & Critical Mineral Future
Watch on YouTubeDemand Drivers: Military and Industrial
- 3,422°C
- melting point, highest of all metals
Tungsten8.7
Magnesium7.4
Platinum group metals7.1
Manganese6.9
Cobalt6.8
Niobium6.5
Light rare earths5.9
Antimony5.4
Copper4.0
Gold2.4
Tungsten scored 8.7 for economic importance, the highest of the 87 raw materials assessed.
Source: European Commission, Study on the Critical Raw Materials for the EU 2023, Final Report.