Tungsten is emerging as one of Europe’s most strategically important industrial metals, despite long remaining outside the spotlight of the energy transition narrative. Unlike lithium or rare earths, tungsten rarely dominates headlines, yet it sits at the core of Europe’s defence industry, advanced manufacturing, aerospace engineering, mining tools, and precision machinery. In today’s tightening global supply environment, tungsten is no longer just a niche input for industrial tools—it has become a strategic resilience metal.
Why Tungsten Is a Critical Industrial Metal for Europe
The strategic importance of tungsten comes from its unique physical properties. It has the highest melting point of any metal, extreme density, exceptional hardness, and outstanding wear resistance. These characteristics make it indispensable for tungsten carbide tools, which are widely used in drilling, cutting, machining, construction, automotive production, aerospace components, and energy infrastructure.
Its role in defence is equally significant. Tungsten is used in armour-piercing ammunition, kinetic penetrators, missile components, military tooling, and high-density alloys where performance under extreme heat and pressure is essential. Substitution is possible, but typically results in higher costs or reduced performance—making tungsten difficult to replace in critical applications.
China’s Dominance in the Global Tungsten Market
Europe’s growing concern over tungsten supply stems from extreme global concentration. According to USGS data, global tungsten production reached around 85,000 tonnes in 2025, with China producing approximately 67,000 tonnes—nearly 79% of global supply. The remaining output is fragmented across countries such as Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Russia, Bolivia, Rwanda, and several EU members, including Austria, Spain, and Portugal.
Europe’s internal production remains limited. EU output of roughly 2,100 tonnes annually compares with demand of about 17,300 tonnes, meaning the bloc depends on imports for nearly 88% of its consumption. This structural dependency explains why tungsten has moved from industrial procurement discussions into the core of EU strategic raw materials policy.
Export Controls Increase Supply Chain Pressure
The urgency intensified after China expanded export controls in 2025, restricting several tungsten products and related technologies. This move exposed how quickly industrial supply chains can be disrupted—not necessarily by shortages of raw material, but by licensing delays, geopolitical restrictions, and export approvals.
Unlike bulk commodities such as copper or aluminium, tungsten markets are relatively illiquid and fragmented. When supply tightens, alternative certified material is difficult to secure quickly, especially for defence-grade or high-performance industrial applications.
Europe’s Key Tungsten Projects and Supply Chain Strategy
Europe is now accelerating efforts to rebuild its tungsten supply chain, with several major projects forming the backbone of future production capacity.
Hemerdon Mine – United Kingdom
The most significant near-term tungsten restart in Europe is the Hemerdon project in Devon, owned by Tungsten West Plc. Previously operated by Wolf Minerals, the site includes partially developed infrastructure, processing facilities, and a substantial historical investment base exceeding US$300 million.
Hemerdon has been designated a strategic project under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials framework, reflecting its importance despite being located outside the EU. The restart plan targets production through a staged approach, with full commissioning expected around 2027.
At full capacity, Hemerdon could process 3.5 million tonnes of ore annually, producing over 332,000 mtu of tungsten trioxide (WO₃), alongside tin by-products. The company estimates it could supply more than 20% of global non-Chinese tungsten supply, making it a globally relevant asset.
Almonty Industries and the Sangdong Mine in South Korea
Another cornerstone of the Western tungsten supply chain is Almonty Industries’ Sangdong mine in South Korea. The project resumed production in 2026 after more than three decades of inactivity.
Phase 1 targets approximately 2,300 tonnes of tungsten concentrate annually, with Phase 2 expected to double output to around 4,600 tonnes. Almonty has stated that Sangdong could eventually supply up to 40% of global tungsten demand outside China.
With an average grade of approximately 0.51% WO₃, significantly above global averages, Sangdong represents one of the highest-quality tungsten deposits in the world. Combined with its long mine life and allied jurisdiction status, it is considered a cornerstone asset in non-Chinese tungsten supply security.
Europe’s Remaining Operating Tungsten Base
Europe still maintains limited but strategically important production capacity:
- Austria – Mittersill Mine (Sandvik): One of Europe’s largest tungsten operations, supplying up to 30% of regional output and forming part of an integrated mining-to-recycling system.
- Portugal – Panasqueira Mine (Almonty): A historic operation dating back to the 19th century, producing high-quality wolframite concentrates.
- Spain – Emerging Projects: Including El Moto and La Parrilla, both positioned as strategic assets under EU raw materials policy.
While individually modest, these assets collectively provide Europe with an operational foundation for tungsten independence efforts.
Spain Becomes a Key Tungsten Development Hub
Spain is emerging as one of Europe’s most important tungsten development jurisdictions. The El Moto project is particularly significant, with a resource base exceeding 90 million tonnes of ore and strong grades above 0.4% WO₃. It is projected to supply up to 20% of European tungsten demand once operational.
The La Parrilla project adds further capacity in tungsten and tin, reinforcing Spain’s role as a critical supplier within the EU supply chain. Both projects still face financing, permitting, water-use constraints, and environmental review challenges, particularly given Spain’s drought vulnerability.
Industrial Importance Beyond Mining
Tungsten’s strategic value extends far beyond extraction. It is deeply embedded in Europe’s industrial ecosystem, powering:
- Cutting and machining tools for automotive and aerospace manufacturing
- Drilling equipment for mining and energy sectors
- Precision tools for defence and industrial engineering
- High-performance components in semiconductors and electronics production
This means tungsten shortages can create cascading disruptions across multiple industries—not just within mining or metallurgy.
Recycling and Circular Supply Chains
Recycling is becoming increasingly important, particularly through cemented carbide recovery. Companies like Sandvik are targeting high circularity rates in tungsten supply chains by 2030. Recycling alone cannot solve supply security. While valuable, secondary supply remains limited in the short term due to long product lifecycles in industrial tools, defence systems, and machinery.
The Strategic Outlook for Europe’s Tungsten Market
The global tungsten market is undergoing a structural shift driven by geopolitical risk, defence demand, and industrial resilience requirements. China’s dominance, combined with tightening export controls, has transformed tungsten from a niche industrial material into a strategic security commodity.
Europe’s response is increasingly coordinated:
- Restarting domestic mines like Hemerdon
- Expanding allied supply through South Korea’s Sangdong mine
- Developing Spanish projects such as El Moto and La Parrilla
- Strengthening recycling and circular supply chains
- Integrating tungsten into defence and industrial procurement strategies
