US Eyes 58 Million Tons of South Korean Tungsten as China Controls 85% of Supply
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 1
US Eyes 58 Million Tons of South Korean Tungsten as China Controls 85% of Supply
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 1
Summary
About 58 million tons of Tungsten beneath Sangdong, South Korea, has become central to the U.S. push to secure critical minerals outside China.
China produces roughly 85% of global tungsten, and its strict export controls last year triggered shortages and sent prices soaring as military demand increased.
Tungsten’s extreme hardness and highest melting point make it vital for semiconductors, construction and oil-drilling equipment, as well as missiles and armored vehicles.
China has also tightened its hold by acquiring rights to the world’s largest open-pit tungsten mine in Kazakhstan while buyers scour global markets for scrap tungsten.
Can one Korean mine truly challenge China's monopoly on the world's most critical 'war metal'?
Beyond digging ore, how will the US win the vital race for mineral processing against China's dominance?
The 2025-2026 Tungsten Shock: China’s Export Controls, Soaring Prices, and the Global Race for Critical Mineral Security
Overview
China has long dominated the global tungsten market, controlling about 80% of mined supply. For decades, the world managed this dependence, but everything changed in early 2025 when China tightened its export controls in response to U.S. tariffs. New licensing rules and lengthy approval processes caused a dramatic reduction in global tungsten supply, with exports of key products like ammonium paratungstate collapsing to near zero. This sudden shift triggered a supply crisis, soaring prices, and exposed the vulnerability of industries worldwide that rely on tungsten for manufacturing, technology, and defense.