The global tungsten market in 2026 is marked by extreme volatility driven by geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and resource nationalism, especially between China and the US. These dynamics have caused significant supply disruptions and price surges across tungsten products.

The US military is seeking proposals to expand domestic production of 13 critical minerals used in defense and high‑tech applications. The initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains amid heightened geopolitical tensions and growing risks to global commodities trade.

The publication of Fastmarkets’ price assessments for MB-V-0001 vanadium pentoxide 98% V2O5 min, in-whs Rotterdam, MB-W-0001 tungsten APT 88.5% WO3 min cif Rotterdam and Baltimore duty-free, and MB-W-0005 tungsten concentrate, basis 50-70% WO3, spot price, cif global on Friday February 13 was delayed because of a procedural issue.

The US laid out its strongest push yet to reshape global critical minerals supply chains at the inaugural Critical Mineral Ministerial in Washington on Wednesday February 4, where senior officials detailed plans for an allied trade bloc built on reference prices and enforceable price floors – a potential turning point for small, strategically important markets such as tungsten.

Explore Kazakhstan's critical minerals role in the global tungsten market amid changing supply chains and rising prices.

Learn about the impact of national security concerns on Chinese tungsten prices and the challenges facing exporters in 2025.

Learn how the tungsten market is affected by China's export regulations on dual-use items amidst political disputes with Japan.

The MB-W-0002 tungsten concentrate 65% WO3, in-whs China was incorrectly published as 45,000-46,000 yuan per tonne due to a typo error. This has been corrected to 450,000-460,000 yuan per tonne. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated to reflect this change. This price is part of Fastmarkets’ ores and alloys physical price package. For more information or to provide […]

Fastmarkets launches a new weekly price assessment for tungsten concentrate, basis 50-70% WO3, spot price, $ per mtu WO3 on Friday December 19.

Fastmarkets will launch a new weekly price assessment for tungsten concentrate, basis 50-70% WO3, spot price, $/mtu WO3 on Friday December 19, with a slight amendment to the originally proposed incoterms. Based on feedback from market participants, Fastmarkets will now launch a price assessed on a CIF global basis, rather than on a CIF Rotterdam […]