RE: Charles Archers June Newsletter on GMET11 Jun 2026 12:36
Asked AI about the tungsten price:
AI says:
Yes, tungsten prices are surging and have reached record highs, with benchmark Ammonium Paratungstate (APT) prices climbing as high as $3,185 per metric tonne unit. This represents a massive spike, driven by a combination of tight supply and skyrocketing global demand.
Key drivers behind this massive price rally include:
Chinese Export Controls: China controls roughly 80% of global tungsten mine production and processed downstream products. Stricter export licensing and reduced domestic mining quotas have heavily constrained global availability.
Defense & Aerospace Needs: Tungsten is heavily utilized in armor-piercing munitions, missile components, and military aircraft counterweights. With rising geopolitical tensions, military consumption has surged, creating a scramble for supply.
Emerging Tech & Industrial Demand: The metal is heavily relied upon in the semiconductor industry (for AI data centers), electric vehicle batteries, and industrial cutting tools.
Impending Procurement Bans: A looming defense procurement mandate that bans tungsten from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea in key US military applications is driving massive strategic stockpiling.