• Tungsten prices surpass $3,000/tonne amid supply disruptions, China curbs
• Rwanda, DRC gain opportunities; Rwanda leads with higher output
• US ties boost Rwanda exports as West seeks alternatives to China

Ammonium paratungstate (APT), the benchmark intermediate product in tungsten production, surpassed $3,000 per tonne in late April, with prices rising sharply since the start of the year.

The rally has been driven by supply disruptions, creating opportunities for Africa’s two main tungsten producers: Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Alongside tin and coltan, tungsten is one of the critical metals known as the “3Ts”. Its density and resistance to high temperatures make it widely used in military and aerospace applications.

Military demand, currently estimated at around 12% of total consumption, is expected to reach 15% between 2027 and 2028 as countries replenish defense stockpiles, according to Project Blue. The automotive sector remains the largest consumer, accounting for 25% to 30% of demand, according to consultancy Argus.

China dominates global tungsten production and exports. In 2025, Beijing introduced new export restrictions while reducing mining quotas. By December, only 15 companies were authorized to export tungsten for the 2026–2027 period. The resulting supply tightening has pushed prices higher and reduced access for Western buyers.

Rwanda Strengthens Position with the United States

Central Africa accounts for a limited share of global tungsten supply, and Rwanda and the DRC operate on very different scales.

The DRC’s wolframite output — the main tungsten ore — is entirely artisanal and reached 213 tonnes in 2025. Exports totaled 94.5 tonnes, valued at $1.3 million. By comparison, the country exported 46,251 tonnes of cassiterite (tin ore) the same year, worth $652 million.

Rwanda’s output is significantly higher. The country exported 2,383.9 tonnes of tungsten in 2024, valued at $35.76 million, according to official data, making it Africa’s leading supplier. This gap is largely driven by the Nyakabingo mine, which its operator, Trinity Metals, describes as the continent’s largest tungsten project.

The mine produces between 100 and 110 tonnes of wolframite per month. Recoverable resources are estimated at more than 115,000 tonnes, with scope to increase output. The impact of higher global prices on revenues has yet to be quantified.

Strategically, Rwanda appears better positioned to benefit from shifting supply chains. As the United States faces the impact of Chinese export restrictions on its defense sector, Kigali has moved to strengthen ties with Washington. The two countries signed a trade agreement in August 2025, and the first shipment of Rwandan tungsten reached the United States the following month.

The shipment resulted from a partnership between U.S.-based Global Tungsten & Powders and Trinity Metals, in which investment firm TechMet holds a stake. TechMet has received backing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), signaling long-term U.S. interest in securing alternative supply sources. The DRC has yet to establish a comparable position.

Kinshasa’s growing cooperation with the United States, including plans to develop a strategic reserve of critical minerals, could nonetheless create opportunities. U.S. investors are increasing their presence in the DRC across exploration and production. While tungsten is not yet a focus, efforts to diversify supply chains could eventually support the development of the country’s tungsten sector.

Emiliano Tossou