Tungsten price has witnessed an “irrational surge” in the global tungsten product market since 2025, with tungsten carbide powder—the core raw material for cemented carbide—leading the rally with a price increase exceeding 200%, hitting a new high in recent years. According to the latest data from Chinatungsten Online on December 22, the domestic tungsten price of tungsten carbide powder has soared to USD 146 per kilogram (equivalent to RMB 1,030 per kilogram), a year-on-year increase of 231.2%, triggering severe cost fluctuations across the upstream and downstream industrial chains. This article combines core price data, streamlined driving logic, and industrial transmission effects, focusing on industry-wide response strategies to provide practical guidance for market participants.​
Tungsten Price Surges 231% by Late 2025! 2

Comprehensive Overview of Tungsten Price Increases for Core ProductsLa

In 2025, prices of all tungsten industry chain products have more than doubled, with particularly significant increases in tungsten carbide and upstream raw materials. The specific data are as follows (exchange rate: 1 USD = 7.0572 RMB as of December 22, 2025):La
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Nom du produitLa
Price on Dec. 22La
Price at the Start of the YearLa
Annual IncreaseLa
RemarksLa
65% Wolframite ConcentrateLa
USD 64,331/tonLa
USD 20,263/tonLa
217.5%La
Quotation from major domestic mining enterprisesLa
65% Scheelite ConcentrateLa
USD 64,190/tonLa
USD 20,121/tonLa
219.0%La
Price basically the same as wolframite concentrateLa
Ammonium Paratungstate (APT)La
USD 94,938/tonLa
USD 29,898/tonLa
217.5%La
Quotation for domestic industrial-grade APTLa
European APTLa
USD 825-900/mtuLa
USD 315-344/mtuLa
161.4%La
Equivalent to USD 72,833-79,496/tonLa
Tungsten PowderLa
USD 151.6/kgLa
USD 44.8/kgLa
238.6%La
Raw material for submicron-grade tungsten carbideLa
Tungsten Carbide PowderLa
USD 146.0/kgLa
USD 44.0/kgLa
231.2%La
Core raw material for cemented carbideLa
Cobalt PowderLa
USD 72.9/kgLa
USD 24.1/kgLa
202.9%La
Binder for tungsten carbide alloys, synchronized price increaseLa
70% FerrotungstenLa
USD 89,270/tonLa
USD 30,460/tonLa
193.0%La
Additive for iron and steel metallurgyLa
European FerrotungstenLa
USD 119-127/kg WLa
USD 42.5-45.4/kg WLa
179.6%La
Equivalent to USD 83,036-88,690/tonLa
Scrap Tungsten RodsLa
USD 92.1/kgLa
USD 31.2/kgLa
195.5%La
Recycled tungsten raw material, relatively lower increaseLa
Scrap Tungsten Drill BitsLa
USD 87.1/kgLa
USD 32.3/kgLa
169.7%La
Recycling price for cemented carbide scrapLa

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Data shows that the increase in tungsten carbide powder (231.2%) is second only to that of tungsten powder (238.6%) and significantly higher than upstream tungsten concentrates and APT products. This reflects the industrial chain transmission effect driven by strong downstream demand, where price increases at the raw material end are further amplified through processing links.
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Core Driving Factors of Price Surge (Streamlined Version)La

The sharp surge in tungsten carbide prices is the result of multiple overlapping factors, with the core logic summarized in four points:La

Supply Contraction: Major domestic production areas have implemented production cuts due to environmental protection and capacity replacement policies (tungsten concentrate capacity reduced by 30%), while international mining enterprises have seen export volumes drop by 15-20%, expanding the supply gap across the entire industrial chain;La

Strong Demand: Recovery in high-end manufacturing sectors such as new energy vehicles, aerospace, and 5G has driven a year-on-year increase of 35-40% in demand for cemented carbide, directly boosting tungsten carbide procurement;La

Cost Transmission: Doubled tungsten prices of upstream raw materials such as tungsten concentrates and cobalt powder have led to a sharp rise in tungsten carbide production costs, forming a “raw material-product” price increase cycle;La

Sentiment Boost: Speculative stockpiling and hoarding behaviors have intensified, with some enterprises’ order backlogs extending to Q1 2026, further amplifying price volatility.

Tungsten Price Surges 231% by Late 2025! 3

Impact of Price Surge on Upstream and Downstream IndustriesLa

1. Impact on Cemented Carbide ManufacturersLa

Tungsten carbide powder accounts for 60-70% of the total cost of cemented carbide products. The price surge has significantly increased production costs for enterprises: small and medium-sized enterprises have reduced or suspended production due to cost pressures, while large enterprises face the risk of customer loss despite transferring costs through price increases, posing severe challenges to supply chain stability.
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2. Transmission Effect on Downstream Processing IndustriesLa

Prices of cemented carbide cutting tools and molds have increased by 80-100% and 50-70% respectively, raising production costs for mechanical processing enterprises by 15-25%. Some enterprises have attempted to replace tungsten carbide with high-speed steel, but high-end application scenarios still rely on tungsten carbide-based cemented carbide, limiting substitution potential.
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3. Benefits to the Recycled Tungsten IndustryLa

Recycled tungsten prices have surged in tandem, with annual increases of over 169% for scrap tungsten rods and drill bits. This has significantly boosted the enthusiasm of recycled tungsten enterprises, and output is expected to increase by 25-30% year-on-year in 2026, becoming a key supplement to alleviate the supply-demand imbalance.
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IV. Market Outlook and Industry-wide Response Strategies (Abridged Version)La

1. Short-term MarketLa

In the short term, the tight supply pattern is unlikely to fundamentally change, and tungsten carbide prices will operate at a high level in the range of USD 142-156 per kilogram (equivalent to RMB 1,000-1,100 per kilogram). However, downstream demand may experience phased contraction, and policy regulation or the withdrawal of speculative capital may trigger corrections. Enterprises need to guard against the risk of sharp price fluctuations.
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2. Long-term TrendLa

Starting from H2 2026, the commissioning of new mining capacities and the rise of the recycled tungsten industry will narrow the supply gap. Meanwhile, technological innovation and material substitution in downstream sectors will slow down demand growth. Prices are expected to return to a rational range of USD 85-113 per kilogram (equivalent to RMB 600-800 per kilogram).
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3. Industry-wide Response Strategies (Focused Practical Measures)La

Upstream Tungsten Mining and Tungsten Carbide ManufacturersLa

Capacity Optimization and Compliance: Prioritize long-term customer supply to avoid supply disruptions; invest in environmental protection upgrades to ensure policy compliance and stable capacity output.La

Product Upgrading: Focus on high-purity, fine-grain tungsten carbide powder to improve added value and reduce price sensitivity; develop customized products for high-end sectors to build competitive edges.La

Risk Hedging: Sign long-term supply contracts to lock in stable margins; use futures or forward agreements to mitigate tungsten price volatility risks.La

Resource recycling: Establish a dual raw material system (primary ore + recycled materials) by developing scrap tungsten recycling channels, reducing reliance on primary concentrates.La

Midstream Cemented Carbide EnterprisesLa

Procurement and Inventory Management: Adopt a “long-term contract + spot” procurement mix, locking 60-70% of raw material demand with core suppliers; maintain moderate inventory (30-45 days) to balance supply security and capital efficiency.La

Technological Cost Reduction: Develop low-tungsten alloy formulations (reducing tungsten usage by 30% while maintaining performance) and optimize sintering processes to lower scrap rates.La

Pricing and Value Communication: Implement a tungsten price linkage mechanism to adjust product quotations timely; highlight performance advantages (e.g., 20% longer tool life) to justify reasonable tungsten price increases.La

Recycled Material Utilization: Build scrap recycling and processing lines, increasing recycled tungsten carbide powder usage to over 30% to cut raw material costs by 15-20%.La

Downstream Processing Enterprises: Optimize Processes, Control CostsLa

Process Optimization: Adjust cutting parameters to reduce tool consumption; adopt dry cutting or minimum quantity lubrication to lower reliance on cemented carbide tools.La

Tool Management: Extend tool life through regrinding and coating repair; select scenario-specific tools to avoid over-engineering waste.La

Substitution and Collaboration: Use alternative materials (high-speed steel, ceramics) for non-core processes; collaborate with tool suppliers for customized solutions to improve efficiency.La

Bulk Purchasing and Cost Sharing: Join industry bulk purchasing alliances to enhance bargaining power; reasonably pass on cost pressures through end-product upgrades.

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Recycled Tungsten Enterprises: Seize Opportunities, Expand ScaleLa

Recycling Network Expansion: Establish outlets in industrial clusters and launch “trade-in” policies to boost scrap tungsten collection.La

Technology Upgrades: Adopt advanced extraction technologies to achieve over 95% tungsten recovery rate and improve recycled powder purity.La

Industrial Chain Collaboration: Form closed-loop cooperation with upstream and downstream enterprises; participate in industry standard-setting to enhance market recognition.La

Policy Utilization: Apply for environmental and recycling subsidies to reduce operational costs and expand production scale.

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Industry Associations and Policy Makers: Stabilize Markets, Guide DevelopmentLa

Monitoring and Early Warning: Regularly release tungsten price indices and supply-demand data to guide rational decision-making; curb speculative hoarding through industry self-regulation.La

Policy Support: Encourage recycled tungsten industry development and overseas resource layout; promote a tungsten product futures market to provide risk management tools.La

Innovation and Standards: Support R&D of low-tungsten and high-efficiency recycling technologies; improve product quality standards to regulate market competition.

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ConclusionLa

The 2025 surge in tungsten carbide prices is the result of supply-demand imbalance, policy regulation, and market sentiment, exerting a profound impact on the global tungsten industry chain. In the face of high tungsten price levels, individual enterprises have limited response capabilities, requiring collaborative efforts across the entire industrial chain—upstream to stabilize supply, midstream to improve efficiency, downstream to optimize processes, recycled tungsten sector to fill gaps, and policy makers to provide guidance. Through technological innovation, model upgrading, and supply chain collaboration, industry participants can not only effectively hedge short-term cost pressures but also build long-term competitive advantages. In the future, as various links of the industrial chain adapt and policy regulation takes effect, the tungsten carbide market will gradually return to a healthy development track, providing stable support for the continuous upgrading of high-end manufacturing.

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