Chinese traders and recycling firms are aggressively buying up tungsten scrap from American scrapyards, triggering a fierce bidding war and sending prices skyrocketing. Since May 2025, tungsten prices in the United States have jumped more than 200 percent, while scrap tungsten has surged by as much as 350 percent.
According to the Financial Times, Chinese buyers have been actively scouring US scrap yards since early 2025, offering prices several times higher than local competitors. They arrive directly at suppliers, outbid domestic firms, and seek to secure as much tungsten as possible. The metal, essential for military applications such as armor-piercing ammunition and missile components, is now at the center of a supply race.
– We are seeing Chinese agents visiting scrapyards in the Midwest and Southwest, paying cash on the spot at levels we cannot match – said Mark Thompson, a scrap metal trader from Ohio. – They are willing to pay three to four times the usual price for high-quality tungsten scrap.
Strategic metal sparks concern in Washington
Wolfram, known as tungsten in English, has the highest melting point of any pure metal and is extremely hard. It is used in everything from drill bits to fighter jet engine components. China currently controls roughly 80 percent of global tungsten production, giving it significant leverage over supply chains. The latest buying spree in the US has raised alarms about national security and resource dependence.
Data from Argus Media cited by money.pl confirm the price explosion. Tungsten ore prices in the US have risen over 200 percent since May 2025, while scrap tungsten prices have increased by 350 percent. The rapid escalation has made tungsten one of the most sought-after commodities in the recycling industry.
– The United States must immediately halt tungsten exports to China – said Senator James Carter, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. – We cannot allow a hostile power to drain our strategic reserves while we remain dependent on its production.
Growing calls for export restrictions
US business leaders and lawmakers are increasingly urging the government to block tungsten exports to China. They argue that the current situation undermines America’s industrial base and military readiness. Several bills have been introduced in Congress calling for an export ban on tungsten scrap and concentrates.
Industry analysts say the only long-term solution is to ramp up tungsten mining and recycling capacity outside China. Currently, the United States produces only a small fraction of its tungsten needs, relying heavily on imports from China and other countries. The recent price spike has also prompted some US companies to explore reopening domestic tungsten mines that were closed decades ago due to low prices.
– We need a comprehensive strategy to rebuild our tungsten supply chain – added Mark Thompson. – Otherwise, we are just feeding the Chinese war machine with our own scrap metal.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock/Dietrich Leppert
