Tungsten
The densest common metal with the highest melting point — used for cutting tools, armor, and as the 'plugs' that connect chip transistors to wiring.
Tungsten contacts and vias link transistors to the copper wiring in logic and memory chips; tungsten tooling machines servers and fab equipment.
China mined ~79% of world supply in 2025. Ex-China concentrate prices roughly tripled in 2026 (from $750–850 to $2,500–2,800 per mtu).
Where it's produced
Share of 2025 world mine production (metric tons). Source: USGS MCS 2026.
Where the reserves are
Share of known economic reserves (metric tons). World total: 4.7M t. ≈ 55 years at 2025 output.
Who calls it critical
Membership on each government list. “Strategic” marks a higher tier where the list has one; “group” means included as part of a group such as rare earths or PGMs.
Tungsten: key questions
- Where is tungsten mined or produced?
- According to USGS 2025 data, the largest producers are China (79%), Vietnam (3.5%) and Kazakhstan (2.8%) of world mine production.
- Is tungsten a critical mineral?
- Tungsten appears on 9 of the 10 official lists we track (United States, European Union, United Kingdom, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Canada).
- Is tungsten in short supply?
- Our supply status: Tight / restricted. China mined ~79% of world supply in 2025. Ex-China concentrate prices roughly tripled in 2026 (from $750–850 to $2,500–2,800 per mtu).
- Why does tungsten matter for AI infrastructure?
- Tungsten contacts and vias link transistors to the copper wiring in logic and memory chips; tungsten tooling machines servers and fab equipment.
Related minerals
ExplorerBismuth
WatchA heavy, non-toxic metal used in pharmaceuticals, low-melt solders and lead-free alloys. China refines ~88%.
Magnesium
WatchThe lightest structural metal, used in aluminum alloys, die-cast parts and titanium production. China makes ~86% of the metal.
Scandium
TightA tiny market (~80 t/yr) with outsized uses in aluminum-scandium alloys, solid-oxide fuel cells, and ScAlN for 5G RF filters.