South Korea has officially restarted commercial operations at the Sangdong tungsten mine, marking the country’s largest mining revival in decades and a pivotal moment for the global tungsten supply chain. Operated by Almonty Industries, Sangdong was once one of the world’s largest tungsten producers before its closure in the 1990s.
Phase I Production and Output
The initial restart phase targets ore throughput of approximately 640,000 tonnes per year, generating 5,000–6,000 tonnes of tungsten concentrate annually. This production is set to supply a significant portion of global non-China tungsten demand, with Phase II expansion aiming to double throughput to 1.2 million tonnes per year by 2027–2028.
Strategic Investment and Industrial Importance
Redevelopment of Sangdong, including underground infrastructure and modern processing facilities, represents a total capital investment exceeding $120 million. Funding combines project finance, export credit support, and long-term offtake agreements, reflecting the mine’s strategic industrial value. Tungsten from Sangdong is critical for aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing, sectors where substitution options are extremely limited.
National Strategic Asset
The South Korean government has designated Sangdong as a strategic industrial asset, aligning with broader policies to secure defence-critical and high-tech material supply chains. Once fully ramped up, the mine is expected to operate for over 40 years, offering long-term production stability in a market historically dominated by Chinese tungsten producers.
