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Tungsten, Ganzhou, Jiangxi
Ganzhou, China25.83°N 114.93°E
computed criticality18/100
reading
≈80% of world extraction; export controls since February 2025
2025Fault line
China concentrates about 80% of the world's tungsten extraction and most of the refining into ammonium paratungstate. The export licences imposed in February 2025 drove APT exports to zero between March and May 2025, triggering a price spike. The metal is indispensable to tooling carbides, penetrators and defence alloys, with no substitute of equal performance.
↗Tightening2030
In 2025 China accounts for ≈79% of world tungsten mine production (67,000 t of 85,000 t), with the Ganzhou cluster (Jiangxi ≈60% of Chinese tungsten) at the heart of the chain; export controls introduced in Feb. 2025 and prices roughly doubled — dependency is tightening.USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2026 ↗
Actors
China Minmetals (Beijing)
Xiamen Tungsten (Xiamen)
Almonty, Sangdong mine (South Korea)
Feeds 1
Lockheed Martin F-35, Fort WorthRare Earths↗Shocks endured
China bans antimony to the United StatesDec 3, 2024↗Sources