Reopened South Korean tungsten mine to supply U.S. defense
Almonty Industries has reopened the Sangdong tungsten mine in eastern South Korea, one of the world’s largest deposits of the defense‑critical metal, and its CEO Lewis Black says that once the site becomes fully operational in the coming year it will produce about 1.2 million tons of ore annually and can meet U.S. national‑security demand 'for decades.' The move is part of a broader U.S. effort to reduce dependence on China, which dominates global tungsten and other critical‑mineral supply chains and has previously threatened to restrict exports during trade tensions.
📌 Key Facts
- Sangdong mine in remote eastern South Korea holds millions of tons of tungsten and has been reopened by Almonty Industries after being shuttered for over 30 years.
- CEO Lewis Black told CBS News, after a recent White House visit, that the mine will be able to meet U.S. national‑security demand for tungsten and guarantee supply for decades.
- Once fully operational in the new year, the mine is expected to produce about 1.2 million tons of tungsten ore per year, offering a non‑Chinese source for a metal used in tanks, jets, armor‑piercing ammo and AI‑guided missiles.
📊 Relevant Data
China accounted for approximately 83% of global tungsten mine production in 2023, producing around 67,000 metric tons out of a global total of 81,000 metric tons.
Tungsten Market Size, Share & Forecast Report, 2026-2035 — Global Market Insights
The U.S. net import reliance for tungsten was more than 50% in 2021, with imports primarily from China, which supplied 35.1% of U.S. tungsten imports valued at $88.9 million in a recent year.
U.S. Tungsten Supply Crisis: Why Domestic Production is Key — Global One Media
Global tungsten mine production was estimated at 81,000 metric tons in 2024, up from 79,500 metric tons in 2023.
Top 10 Tungsten-producing Countries — Investing News Network
The Sangdong mine, at full capacity, is expected to supply nearly 40% of the world's non-Chinese tungsten production.
Almonty Restarts Korea's Sangdong Tungsten Mine, a Strategic Shift in Global Supply — NAI 500
The U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, signed on April 30, 2025, establishes a Reconstruction Investment Fund where the U.S. provides financial or military assistance, and Ukraine contributes half of royalties from future oil, gas, and mineral licenses.
What to Know About the Signed U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal — Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
The Sangdong mine was closed in 1994 primarily due to an influx of cheaper tungsten from China, which resumed exporting to the non-communist world and undercut global prices.
Reopening the Sangdong Mine: South Korea's Quest for Tungsten Autonomy — Korea Economic Institute of America (KEIA)
The U.S. consumes more than 8,000 tons of tungsten per year, with about 60% used in cemented carbide machinery tooling.
Tungsten Market Size | Research Report, 2025 To 2034 — Market Reports World
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"The piece argues the U.S. should avoid wholesale reshoring and instead use a three‑part test to prioritize resilience investments in truly critical supply chains (like defense‑critical minerals), because broad reshoring is too costly and slow."