The United States is facing a critical shortage of tungsten, a metal essential for advanced weaponry such as Tomahawk, Patriot, and Precision Strike missiles, as it continues its military campaign against Iran. The U.S. has depleted significant stockpiles of these munitions, and replenishing them requires tungsten, whose production and refining are overwhelmingly controlled by China, which produces over 80% of the world’s supply and consumes more than half of it [1]. The U.S. has had no active commercial tungsten mines since 2015, prompting a strategic search for alternative sources, including a mine in eastern South Korea owned by a U.S. company, Almonty Industries, which recently reopened the Sangdong mine after more than 30 years of inactivity due to Chinese competition [1].
Tungsten is not only vital for defense but also for the technology sector, being used in semiconductors, batteries, and smartphones. According to Lewis Black, CEO of Almonty Industries, and Steve Allen, the company’s COO, demand for tungsten is expected to increase, making a resilient supply chain crucial for the next decade or two [1]. Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, stated that restoring key munitions to prewar levels could take up to four years, which is critical for U.S. preparedness in the event of conflict with China [1].
The shortage also impacts U.S. allies such as Japan and South Korea, which rely on U.S.-made missile systems, and Taiwan, whose $14 billion U.S. arms package has been put on pause due to the Iran war, according to a Trump administration statement [1]. China’s dominance in the tungsten market is supported by government subsidies, lower labor costs, and looser regulations. In the previous year, China imposed export controls on several rare earths and critical minerals, including tungsten, amid a trade war with the U.S., further tightening global supply and increasing prices [1].
The U.S. currently relies heavily on recycling and imports for its tungsten needs, importing more than 6,000 metric tons of processed tungsten annually, according to the U.S. Geological Survey [1]. The ongoing search for alternative sources, such as the South Korean mine, is seen as vital for national security and technological resilience [1].
CONCLUSION
The U.S. faces a significant strategic challenge as China’s export controls and dominance in tungsten production threaten the supply of a metal critical for both defense and technology. Efforts to diversify sources, such as reopening the Sangdong mine in South Korea, are underway but restoring munitions stockpiles could take years. The situation underscores the urgency for the U.S. and its allies to secure resilient supply chains for critical minerals.