China tungsten prices stayed stable on August 6, 2026. Long-term contract signals supported market confidence, while cautious downstream demand limited upside momentum.
On August 6, 2026, China tungsten prices remained stable, according to Chinatungsten Online. A slight increase in long-term contract procurement prices from leading tungsten producers helped reduce spot-market bargaining pressure, but downstream buyers still placed orders mainly for essential demand.
Market overview: stable prices, cautious orders
The market remains a tug-of-war between supply-side confidence and cautious consumption. Chinatungsten Online expects narrow-range fluctuations in the short term, with attention on downstream procurement pace and the real effect of macro policy expectations.
The August 6 price board shows 65% WO3 wolframite concentrate at RMB 415,000/ton and 65% WO3 scheelite concentrate at RMB 414,000/ton. APT stayed at RMB 610,000/ton, while tungsten powder and tungsten carbide powder held at RMB 975/kg and RMB 925/kg respectively.
Policy notes: mine management rules and U.S. tungsten scrap
The source article highlights China mining management rules requiring metal and non-metal mines to transition toward in-house teams or comprehensive third-party management by May 2027 for underground mines and May 2028 for open-pit mines. In the near term, this may add recruitment, training and integration costs for some tungsten, molybdenum and rare-earth mines.
It also notes a U.S. BIS-related report: starting August 27, 2026, tungsten scrap and battery black mass sold within the United States must first be offered fully to domestic buyers, with exports generally prohibited unless a prior exemption is granted. For carbide tool buyers, this matters because scrap carbide availability can influence recycled tungsten feedstock and regional raw-material cost signals.
Price table - August 6, 2026 (Chinatungsten Online)
The table below summarizes the August 6 domestic Xiamen reference prices and international ranges published by Chinatungsten Online. The original board lists reference exchange rates of USD/RMB 6.7485 and EUR/RMB 7.7925.
| Product | Price | YTD Change |
|---|---|---|
| 65% WO3 Wolframite Concentrate | RMB 415,000/ton | down 9.8% in 2026 |
| 55% WO3 Wolframite Concentrate | RMB 411,000/ton | stable on the board |
| 65% WO3 Scheelite Concentrate | RMB 414,000/ton | down 9.8% in 2026 |
| 55% WO3 Scheelite Concentrate | RMB 410,000/ton | stable on the board |
| Ammonium Paratungstate (APT, 88.5% WO3) | RMB 610,000/ton | down 9.0% in 2026 |
| European APT | USD 3,000-3,279/mtu (equiv. RMB 1.792-1.959 million)/ton (equiv.) | up 241.3% in 2026 |
| Tungsten Powder (99.9%, 2-10um) | RMB 975/kg | down 9.7% in 2026 |
| Tungsten Carbide Powder (99.8%, 2-10um) | RMB 925/kg | down 11.1% in 2026 |
| Cobalt Powder (99.5%, 1.0-1.5um) | RMB 460/kg | down 11.5% in 2026 |
| 70% W Ferrotungsten | RMB 660,000/ton | up 1.5% in 2026 |
| European Ferrotungsten | USD 180-195/kg W (equiv. RMB 850,000-921,000)/ton (equiv.) | up 36.4% in 2026 |
| Tungsten Bar (99.95%) | RMB 1,070/kg | stable on the board |
| Tungsten Wire (99.95%, 26-35um) | RMB 38/km | stable on the board |
| Scrap Tungsten Carbide Rod | RMB 760/kg | up 11.8% in 2026 |
| Scrap Tungsten Carbide Blade | RMB 610/kg | stable on the board |
Source: Chinatungsten Online · YTD = Year-to-date change from Jan 1, 2026 · WoW = Week-on-week
Buyer impact for carbide tools
- WC powder at RMB 925/kg keeps carbide rod replenishment sensitive to powder costs.
- Cobalt powder at RMB 460/kg may reduce some grade pressure, but it also signals cautious downstream demand.
- Scrap carbide rod at RMB 760/kg remains relevant for recycled tungsten and regional feedstock costs.
- U.S. tungsten scrap export restrictions may increase the need to separate China domestic, European and U.S. cost assumptions.
- For custom carbide drills and end mills, quote validity should be tied to real stock, powder costs and production schedule.
Procurement note
Use the August 6 stable-price window to refresh budgets, but avoid treating stability as a long quote window. For repeat tools, send a diameter list; for custom tools, send drawings, work material, coating requirements and annual quantity.
Carbide tooling pages for RFQ planning
Internal coolant solid carbide drills for deep-hole CNC production.
Factory-direct carbide drills for stainless steel, alloy steel and general CNC drilling.
Solid carbide square end mills for slotting, profiling and finishing.
Ball nose carbide end mills for 3D contouring and mold machining.
Corner-radius carbide end mills for stronger edges and stable finishing.
Outlook
In the short term, tungsten prices may continue to fluctuate within a narrow range. The key signals are downstream procurement speed, long-term contract pricing, mine transition costs and whether scrap policy changes begin to affect recycled tungsten flows.
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