Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal and is used in cutting tools, military applications, and electronics. China controls approximately 80% of global tungsten production.
Top Uses of Tungsten
Cutting tools and drill bits
Military armor-piercing ammunition
Filaments for lighting and electrodes
High-temperature furnace components
Top Tungsten Producing Countries
China
Vietnam
Russia
Bolivia
Why Tungsten Is a Critical Mineral
Tungsten is irreplaceable in precision machining and defense applications, with extreme supply concentration in China creating strategic vulnerability.
Related Critical Minerals
Antimony — Both defense-critical metals with supply heavily concentrated in China
Titanium — Both refractory metals used in superalloys and high-temperature applications
Vanadium — Both refractory metals used in superalloys and high-temperature applications
Chromium — Both refractory metals used in superalloys and high-temperature applications
Niobium — Both refractory metals used in superalloys and high-temperature applications
Tantalum — Both refractory metals used in superalloys and high-temperature applications
Frequently Asked Questions about Tungsten
What is the price of tungsten today?
Critical Minerals HQ tracks the live tungsten price in USD/t, refreshed every 15 minutes during market hours from institutional pricing feeds.
What is tungsten used for?
Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal and is used in cutting tools, military applications, and electronics. China controls approximately 80% of global tungsten production.
Which countries produce the most tungsten?
The leading producers of tungsten are China, Vietnam, Russia, according to the latest USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries.
Why is tungsten considered a critical mineral?
Tungsten is irreplaceable in precision machining and defense applications, with extreme supply concentration in China creating strategic vulnerability.