Tungsten supply crisis intensifies as U.S. halts scrap exports

The United States has implemented a halt on tungsten scrap exports, requiring a license for any such shipments for at least the next year. This move comes as the West faces a deepening supply crisis for tungsten, a metal critical to defense systems, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and energy infrastructure.

As China continues to impose export restrictions, Western nations are racing to secure non-Chinese sources. Almonty Industries, a major Western tungsten miner with operations in Portugal, is positioning itself as a key supplier. The company is currently ramping up production at its Sangdong Mine in South Korea, which is projected to provide approximately 40% of Western tungsten production once it reaches full capacity.