China Tightens Tungsten Mining Regulation, US Bans Tungsten Scrap Exports

Analysis of Latest Tungsten Market from Chinatungsten Online

Tungsten prices in China remain stable. The slight increase in long-term contract procurement prices by leading tungsten enterprises yesterday injected confidence into the market, effectively easing bargaining pressure in the spot sector. 

However, the consumption side remains cautious, new orders beyond essential demand remain scarce, limiting the upward momentum of prices. China Tungsten Online believes that the tug-of-war between supply and demand remains evident in the current tungsten market. Prices are expected to fluctuate within a narrow range in the short term, with attention focused on the pace of downstream procurement and the actual impact of macroeconomic policy expectations.

In accordance with China's guidelines on regulating mining and stripping teams at metal and non-metal mines, mines must transition to either in-house team formation or comprehensive third-party management by May 2027 (for underground mines) or May 2028 (for open-pit mines). In the short term, mining enterprises dealing in tungsten, molybdenum, and rare earths may face transitional costs and production constraints related to recruitment, training, and operational integration; mines heavily reliant on outsourcing may face the risk of suspension for rectification. In the long run, however, these measures will strengthen the primary responsibility for safety management, improve workforce quality and production stability, and lower accident rates, thereby fostering high-quality development and sustainable supply within the tungsten mining industry.

According to a report submitted by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to the Federal Register, starting August 27, 2026, tungsten scrap and "battery black mass" (shredded spent lithium batteries containing lithium, cobalt, nickel, etc.) sold within the U.S. must be offered 100% to domestic buyers first. Exports are prohibited in principle unless a prior BIS exemption is granted (e.g., for overseas processing followed by re-importation to the U.S.). The ban is valid for one year, with the right reserved to extend it to other critical minerals in the future. China Tungsten Online notes that foreign media previously reported Chinese merchants actively sourcing tungsten scrap across the U.S. since early 2025, sparking fierce bidding wars with domestic recyclers and driving up local tungsten prices. However, the U.S. move to ban tungsten scrap exports has also raised concerns regarding the processing capacity and technical capabilities of domestic U.S. facilities.

Tungsten and cobalt products newly prices as followings.

65% wolframite concentrate price: RMB 415,000/ton, down 60.5% from its peak and 9.8% since the start of the year.

65% scheelite concentrate price: RMB 414,000/ton, down 60.5% from its peak and 9.8% in 2026.

Ammonium paratungstate (APT) price: RMB 610,000/ton, down 59.9% from its peak and 9.0% in 2026.

European APT price: USD 3,000-3,279/mtu (equivalent to RMB 1.792-1.959 million/ton), up 241.3% in 2026.

Tungsten powder price: RMB 975/kg, down 59.4% from its peak and 9.7% in 2026.

Tungsten carbide powder price: RMB 925/kg, down 60.5% from its peak and 11.1% in 2026.

Cobalt powder price: RMB 460/kg, down 20.7% from its high and 11.5% in 2026.

70% ferrotungsten price: RMB 660,000/ton, down 53.5% from its peak but up 1.5% in 2026.

European ferrotungsten price: USD 180-195/kg W (equivalent to RMB 850,000-921,000/ton), down 42.3% from its peak but up 36.4% in 2026.

Scrap tungsten carbide rod price: RMB 760/kg, down 51.0% from its peak but up 11.8% in 2026.

Prices of Tungsten Products on August 06, 2026

Tungsten Price Trend from January to August 2026

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