• 27 June 2024
  • Market: Minor Metals, Metals

Tungsten prices are at highs not seen for some time. This short update will help you to understand the fundamental reasons behind these high prices and give you an insight into the near to medium term outlook for the tungsten market.

The insights provided in this 10 minute video are taken from the new edition of Argus Tungsten Analytics service, presented by Mark Seddon, Principal Consultant.

The video update explores:

• Tungsten prices are at 6-year highs, principally affected by near-term supply issues in China
• Demand for tungsten is generally muted, especially in Europe, but the defence sector is driving demand given the current geo-political issues in eastern Europe and the Middle East
• The medium-term supply picture is likely to be boosted by new projects coming on-stream in 2H 2024 and 2025

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29/01/26

AMG eyes Brazil, Portugal for Li processing

AMG eyes Brazil, Portugal for Li processing

Sao Paulo, 29 January (Argus) — Dutch miner AMG Critical Materials is exploring investment opportunities for lithium processing facilities in both Brazil and Portugal in a push to establish a "fully Western" supply chain. AMG is one of the few companies in the western hemisphere with lithium refining capacity, running a hydroxide refinery in Germany fed by spodumene from its Brazilian mine, board member Michael Connor told Argus . Still, the concentrate must be sent to China for processing, where its purity is enhanced to around 100pc from 6pc — then back to Germany for refining. The Dutch firm said it wants to reduce its reliance on China, which dominates the global spodumene midstream, by building lithium processing capacity in Brazil and Portugal. AMG is the second-largest spodumene producer in Brazil and the top shareholder in Savannah Resources, which is developing the Barroso project in Portugal, slated to be Europe's largest lithium mine with over 39mn metric tonnes (t) of reserves. Processing lithium nearer to its extraction sites would cut costs by avoiding back-and-forth shipments to China. The company's objective is to continue building — in phases — an integrated upstream supply chain in Brazil to support its refining activities in Europe, Connor said. Brazilian authorities, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and critical minerals association AMC , have repeatedly called for companies to integrate critical minerals supply chains by investing in midstream processing capacity in Brazil. Such incentives, added to Brazil's legal stability, make it an attractive country for critical minerals, Connor noted. "The strength of the resource base, existing industrial capabilities, and an increasing policy focus on value-added processing all support the case for longer-term investment," he said. As for Portugal, it offers close proximity to AMG's German refinery, helping streamline logistics and lower costs. The Barroso project is scheduled to come on line in 2028. AMG is still assessing timelines, configurations and sequencing, so it is still unclear whether a midstream plant will come first in Europe or Brazil and what its nameplate capacities will be. Its German refinery is expected to complete its ramp-up and reach its 20,000 t/yr nameplate lithium hydroxide capacity by the end of this year. By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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News

Largest bulk sulphur volumes to date arrive in Angola


29/01/26
News
29/01/26

Largest bulk sulphur volumes to date arrive in Angola

London, 29 January (Argus) — About 50,000t of bulk sulphur has recently discharged into the Angolan port of Lobito for onward rail shipment to the copper belt. Trafigura announced today on LinkedIn that the Lobito Atlantic Railway earlier this month received the largest sulphur bulk carrier to date of 50,000t into Lobito in partnership with Ameropa and Tradevis. The volumes are then planned for onward rail shipment to the copper belt. The bulker As One , which loaded in Duqm, Oman, arrived with the volumes into Lobito around 23 January. Originally the vessel was due to part-discharge 20,000t of sulphur into Namibia's Walvis Bay, with the remaining 30,000t into Lobito. By Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Slowing US EV market hits S Korean LGES' battery sales


29/01/26
News
29/01/26

Slowing US EV market hits S Korean LGES' battery sales

Singapore, 29 January (Argus) — A slowdown in the US EV market dealt blows to South Korea's top battery maker LG Energy Solutions' (LGES) electric vehicle (EV) battery shipments, the firm said today, as it laid out aggressive plans to push into the energy storage space. Its EV battery shipments fell by more than 10pc, pressured by slowing EV sales at major automaker clients and more cautious inventory management, the firm said in its latest quarterly earnings results on 29 January. Its revenue fell by 7.6pc from a year earlier to 23.7 trillion won ($16.6bn) during its 1 January-31 December 2025 financial year, with a 40pc jump in energy storage systems (ESS) battery revenue helping to cushion the blow. Operating losses narrowed to W122bn in October-December from W226bn during the same period a year earlier, and swung sharply from a profit of W601bn a quarter earlier. LGES now expects even more subdued EV market growth of over 10pc in 2026 following heavy US policy changes in 2025, its chief financial officer Lee Chang Sil said during the latest earnings call. The South Korean firm expects the short-term outlook for the EV market to be dim but defended its long-term prospects because of the emergence of robots and autonomous vehicles, it said during its earnings call in response to questions by analysts. Global ESS installations are expected to outpace the EV market and grow by over 40pc in 2026, potentially taking over half of North America's battery market demand, said the firm. Industrial electrification, climate-driven demand for cooling and heating, as well as the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres, where more intense power consumption is raising renewable energy use, are all fuelling ESS demand, Lee added. The firm is seeking to tap on partnerships with North American grid utility customers to outperform its record-breaking orders of 90GWh in 2025. It started lithium-iron-phosphate ESS battery production in the US in 2025, having secured multiple ESS orders from US energy companies. Firm-wide ESS capacity could almost double on the year to 60GWh in 2026, it said. It can raise ESS capacity by unlocking over 50GWh of capacity through the repurposing of its existing EV lines, which has partly been carried out. Conversion of its idle EV capacity in Poland and joint ventures in North America for ESS production has been completed. Its Ochang lines in South Korea could contribute 5GWh if necessary, it added. LGES held a backlog of over 300GWh for its 46 series batteries and 140GWh in cumulative ESS orders as of the end of 2025. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Thailand EV boom drives auto market in 2025


29/01/26
News
29/01/26

Thailand EV boom drives auto market in 2025

Singapore, 29 January (Argus) — Thailand's auto output reached over 1.455mn units in 2025, exceeding its target, while battery electric vehicle (EV) registrations jumped by more than 50pc on the year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The vehicle production figure surpassed the target of 1.45mn units, although it still fell short of the previous year's output by 0.9pc, FTI said on 28 January. The 2026 target has been set at 1.5mn vehicles alongside 2mn motorcycles, supported by expectations of falling interest rates, strong foreign investment and an expanding EV market. Internal combustion engine passenger car production fell sharply by 29pc on the year to almost 248,000 units in 2025, as electrification momentum in the segment accelerated. Battery-electric passenger vehicle (BEV) production more than doubled on the year to 71,000 units. Hybrid passenger EV output rose by 12pc on the year to slightly over 214,000 units, while plug-in hybrid passenger EV production more than doubled to nearly 17,300 units. BEV registrations during the year rose sharply by nearly 53pc on the year to around 147,500 units, outpacing the nearly 137,600 units of hybrid EV registration. But cumulative hybrid EV registrations remain far higher at 605,000 units, compared with 372,600 units for BEVs. Major Chinese EV brands in Thailand have continued offering price cuts to entice buyers. A 200,000 Thai baht ($6,434), or 19pc, discount is being offered this year on major EV brand BYD's Atto 3 model, an advertisement by BYD's Chonburi showroom shows. A car dealer's January price list shows a 160,000 baht, or nearly 23pc, discount on Chinese EV brand SAIC's MG4 Electric D model. Thailand is also a major producer of pickup trucks, which account for the majority of its auto production, while electric trucks remain scarce. The country produced around 571,900 double-cab pickup trucks in 2025, but only 555 battery-powered double-cab pickup trucks. Thailand's National EV Policy Board earlier approved policy changes in an effort to avert a potential domestic EV supply glut. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Molymet, Maritime House sign Re recycling MoU: Update


28/01/26
News
28/01/26

Molymet, Maritime House sign Re recycling MoU: Update

Confirms date of agreed MoU in paragraph 4 London, 28 January (Argus) — Chilean rhenium processor Molymet and Canadian rhenium recycler Maritime House plan to partner on recycling rhenium-bearing materials to process into ammonium perrhenate (APR) and rhenium metal. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on an envisioned 50:50 joint-venture (JV) that would initially utilize either parties' existing facilities in Chile or Canada, and subsequently evaluate the commercial viability of establishing a new rhenium processing facility in North America, Molymet said. The move would aim to meet growing demand from the aerospace industry. Development of a new plant would be contingent on sourced feeds exceeding current processing capacities. Rhenium-bearing materials include nickel-based superalloy scrap and binary alloy scrap. The JV plans to sell finished rhenium products including APR, pellets and powder. The JV will also work with original equipment manufacturers to offer comprehensive recycling and primary supply solutions. The memorandum of understanding was agreed on 12 November 2025, and disclosed to Argus on 27 January. Molymet is the world's largest primary rhenium producer with a nameplate capacity of 40 metric tonnes (t)/yr in Chile, while Maritime House is the world's largest recycler of rhenium-containing materials — with a processing facility in Napanee, Ontario, Canada. Rhenium prices are currently at their highest in over a decade, as persistent metal demand from the western aerospace sector and Chinese import demand on APR has underpinned the market. Argus last assessed 99.9pc rhenium pellets at $1,835-1,995/lb dp Rotterdam on Tuesday. The metal is not replaceable in several nickel base alloys essential to manufacture turbine blades in aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. By Samuel Wood and Reagan Patrowicz Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.