Tungsten has quickly become one of the most talked-about metals in the global commodities market, and for good reason.
In early 2025, ammonium paratungstate (APT), the global benchmark for tungsten pricing, was trading at roughly $300 per metric tonne unit. By early 2026, it had surged to $1,700–$1,800/MTU, a near sixfold increase in just twelve months. Ferrotungsten prices have also climbed from $45/kg to over $200/kg.
This fast rise in tungsten prices is not a short-term increase. It displays a wider shift in global supply chains, driven by tightening export controls, declining mine output, and rising demand from defence, aerospace, and high-end manufacturing.
For the UK, where tungsten is largely imported, the impact is already being felt across engineering, automotive production, and even the scrap and recycling industry.
Tungsten is a dense, silvery-grey metal with the chemical symbol W, known for having the highest melting point of any metal at 3,422°C.
It is incredibly hard, heat-resistant, and durable, making it essential in industries where materials need to work under extreme conditions.
The most important form of tungsten in industry is tungsten carbide, a compound that is almost as hard as diamond.
Tungsten is widely used in:
This is what makes tungsten so relevant to today’s price surge. It sits at the core of manufacturing and infrastructure.
When tungsten becomes more expensive, the cost of production increases from car parts to aircraft components, and that impact spreads quickly across the economy.
The rise in tungsten prices over the past year has been rapid and unprecedented.
Tungsten has historically fluctuated in price, but this surge stands out due to its speed and scale.
Key price movements include:
This has moved tungsten from a relatively stable industrial metal into a high-volatility, high-demand commodity, with global attention now focused on supply risks and long-term availability.
The biggest driver behind the rise in tungsten prices is China’s control over global supply.
China accounts for around 80% of annual tungsten production and holds over half of the world’s reserves.
In 2025, China introduced stricter export controls on tungsten products, classifying many under “dual-use” regulations.
This means exporters now require government approval, significantly limiting supply to international markets.
As a result, tungsten exports have reduced sharply, tightening availability worldwide.
China has also reduced mining quotas, limiting tungsten extractions yearly.
At the same time, ore grades are dropping in key mining regions, making extraction more expensive and less efficient.
This combination of reduced output and higher production costs has made it difficult to increase supply, even as prices rise.
Demand for tungsten is growing across several sectors:
Tungsten’s role in cutting tools and high-performance components means demand is closely tied to industrial output.
As global manufacturing continues, demand remains strong even at higher prices.
Unlike some metals, tungsten stockpiles are relatively limited.
Many manufacturers have been running down inventory rather than replenishing it at higher prices.
This creates a situation where any disruption to supply leads directly to price increases, as there’s not much flexibility in the system.
The UK is heavily reliant on imported tungsten, with a growing share coming from China.
This creates a significant supply risk, particularly as global competition for critical minerals increases.
The UK government has also identified tungsten as a strategic material within its Critical Minerals Strategy, highlighting the importance of domestic resources, particularly in Cornwall.
The UK Critical Minerals Strategy is the government’s plan to reduce reliance on imported materials like tungsten and secure long-term supply for industry, defence, and manufacturing.
First introduced in 2022 and updated in early 2026 under the Vision 2035 framework, the strategy addresses growing concerns around supply chain risk, particularly where materials are sourced heavily from a single country.
As of late 2025, the UK was importing just over 50% of its tungsten from China, up from around 23% in 2019. This sharp increase highlights how quickly supply chains have become concentrated, especially as global supply has tightened.
The main goal of the strategy is to ensure that no more than 60% of any critical mineral comes from one country by 2035, reducing exposure to disruption, price shocks, and geopolitical pressure.
To achieve this, the UK is focusing on three key areas:
This is where tungsten becomes highly relevant to the scrap industry.
With global supply constrained and new mines taking years to develop, recycling is no longer just an environmental benefit; it is part of the UK’s supply strategy.
Materials like tungsten are now considered critical, and securing access to them is becoming just as important as managing cost.
Cornwall has historically been a key source of tungsten, with new exploration projects now underway.
These deposits are being re-evaluated as prices rise, making domestic production more viable than it has been in years.
However, new mining projects take time. Even with investment, it could be several years before domestic supply can meaningfully reduce reliance on imports.
Currently, the UK remains heavily dependent on overseas supply, with China accounting for just over 50% of UK tungsten imports as of late 2025, up significantly from around 23% in 2019, highlighting how quickly supply chains have become more concentrated, particularly as global production has tightened.
This growing reliance is exactly what the UK government is aiming to address through its 2025/2026 Critical Minerals Strategy.
One of the key targets is to ensure that no more than 60% of any critical mineral is sourced from a single country by 2035, reducing exposure to supply disruption and geopolitical risk.
In practical terms, it means increasing domestic production, strengthening relationships with alternative suppliers, and placing greater emphasis on recycling and material recovery.
With tungsten supply largely controlled by one region and demand continuing to rise, the UK’s ability to secure stable access will play a key role in supporting manufacturing, defence, and wider industrial growth over the next decade.
Rising tungsten prices are already impacting UK industries:
For many businesses, the cost of tungsten is now a direct factor in pricing, margins, and competitiveness.
The industries most affected by rising tungsten prices include:
These sectors rely heavily on tungsten carbide tooling, meaning cost increases feed directly into day-to-day operations.
For most scrap cars, tungsten is not a major factor in pricing.
Metals like steel, aluminium, copper, and platinum group metals (from catalytic converters) still dominate vehicle value.
Where tungsten does have a real impact is behind the scenes.
Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) rely on tungsten carbide tools for:
As tungsten prices rise, these tools become much more expensive to replace.
This increases operating costs across the scrap industry and affects margins on vehicle processing.
One of the biggest opportunities comes from tungsten carbide scrap.
Used tooling such as drill bits, inserts and cutting heads is now far more valuable than it was just a year ago.
As the primary supply tightens, recycling becomes increasingly important.
For scrap businesses and recyclers, this means:
Tungsten can be worth scrapping, but only in the right form.
The most valuable category is tungsten carbide scrap, particularly clean, uncontaminated tooling waste.
This material can be recycled efficiently and is in high demand due to supply shortages.
For general scrap cars, tungsten content is minimal and unlikely to significantly affect the overall value.
Current market conditions suggest that tungsten prices are likely to remain elevated.
While short-term corrections are always possible, the underlying issues, like limited supply, strong demand, and geopolitical influence, are not easily resolved.
Even if prices stabilise, they are expected to remain well above pre-2024 levels for the foreseeable future.
The tungsten market is entering a new phase:
For the scrap and recycling sector, this shift creates both challenges and opportunities.
Tungsten may not be the most visible metal in the scrap industry, but its importance is growing quickly.
The price surge in 2026 highlights how critical materials can reshape entire supply chains, from manufacturing to recycling.
For the UK, the challenge is balancing supply security with rising demand.
For scrap businesses, the focus is shifting toward efficiency, cost control, and identifying higher-value materials such as tungsten carbide.
As the market continues to evolve, tungsten is no longer a background metal; it is becoming a key part of the wider conversation around industry, sustainability, and resource security.
Tungsten is becoming a key topic across manufacturing and recycling.
Here are the most common questions around tungsten prices and the UK market.
Founder & MD of Scrap Local
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