Japanese trading house Sojitz has acquired a 5% stake in Vietnamese tungsten miner Masan High-Tech Materials, marking a strategic move to diversify supply chains away from China's dominance in critical metals [1]. This investment comes as Masan High-Tech Materials has already attracted US investment, indicating growing international interest in alternative tungsten sources [1]. The acquisition is motivated by supply chain security concerns, as China currently controls approximately 80% of global tungsten production [1]. Tungsten is a critical metal used in machine tools and semiconductor chips, making secure access to non-Chinese sources strategically important for Japanese manufacturers [1]. By taking this stake in Masan's mining and refining operations in northern Vietnam, Sojitz aims to reduce Japan's reliance on Chinese tungsten supplies and establish a more diversified sourcing strategy for this essential industrial material [1].
CONCLUSION
Sojitz's investment in Vietnamese tungsten miner Masan High-Tech Materials reflects a broader geopolitical and supply chain strategy to reduce dependence on China's 80% global control of tungsten production. This move signals growing momentum among developed economies to establish alternative sources for critical minerals essential to manufacturing and semiconductor industries.