In Focus | China has dominated tungsten for decades. Can US investment loosen its grip?
- Posted on October 3, 2026
- By South China Morning Post
- 6 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
China's decades-long dominance in tungsten production faces potential disruption as the United States pursues strategic investments to develop alternative supply chains. Kazakhstan emerges as a crucial partner in this geopolitical reshaping of critical mineral sourcing. Despite ambitious efforts to diversify tungsten supplies away from Chinese control, industry experts caution that overcoming Beijing's entrenched market position and technological advantages will require sustained commitment and substantial capital investment over the coming years.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
In Focus | China has dominated tungsten for decades. Can US investment loosen its grip?
Kazakhstan is at the centre of US efforts to build a new supply chain for the metal, but analysts say China’s lead will be difficult to overcome.
