Tungsten Carbide Prices Surge ~460%; CNC Tool Brands Raise Prices 10–30%
Created on 09.17
A structural raw-material shock is reshaping the cutting tool industry—and taps are squarely in the line of fire.
What Happened
China supplies roughly 79% of global tungsten mine production (~85,000 metric tons/year). On 4 February 2025, China's Ministry of Commerce introduced export licensing for tungsten products; on 6 January 2026 it activated the 2026 Catalogue of Dual-Use Items, placing tungsten oxides and carbides under licensing control. Tungsten carbide powder rose from about RMB 311/kg at end-2024 to roughly RMB 1,750/kg by late February 2026—up about 463%. Other trackers put tungsten powder at RMB 2,330–2,380/kg by April 2026, a rise of over 600%.
Why Supply Tightened
- China's 2025 tungsten concentrate mining quota cut 6.5% YoY
- Stricter environmental inspections and upgraded export controls
- Firm demand from aerospace, automotive tooling, mining and electronics
Impact on Tool Prices
Carbide powder is over 65% of cemented carbide tool cost. Since early 2026, major Chinese brands—Zhuzhou Diamond, Huarui Precision, Okeyi, Xinrui, Winsmith and Walder—issued price adjustments of 10–30%, with high-end products rising more. Lead times stretched from 1–2 weeks to 1–3 months for standard items, and beyond 3 months for premium products.
Industry Fallout
Rising costs squeeze small and mid-size shops; leaders with inventory and scale gain share. Huarui Precision and Okeyi both guided strong 2025 profit growth on volume-price gains.
Takeaway for Buyers
Lock multi-quarter contracts, build strategic stock within cash flow, and qualify second sources. The up-cycle is expected to persist through 2026.
Sources: SupplyStatus / Fastmarkets (tungsten 2026); MyX Cutting Tools news (Apr 2026); Securities Times (stcn.com); Cailian Press (cls.cn); Sina Finance.
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