China’s tungsten market moved in slow motion on July 30, 2026. Concentrate, APT, powder and scrap prices held near psychological support levels while spot buying stayed cautious.
China’s tungsten market stayed in a slow sideways pattern on July 30, 2026. According to Chinatungsten Online, major tungsten products hovered near key psychological price levels, while upstream and downstream participants tested each other cautiously and spot liquidity remained thin.
Market overview: slow-motion trading near support levels
Mainstream quotes for 55% tungsten concentrate were around RMB 410,000/ton. Although this was far below the March 2026 historical peak, sellers were still reluctant to break their psychological price floors, and buyers were hesitant to chase prices higher while demand remained under pressure.
APT was locked around the RMB 600,000/ton level, supported by raw-material costs and major long-term contract references. Downstream powder metallurgy buyers focused on inventory depletion and immediate restocking, so neither price nor volume delivered a clear breakout signal.
Powder, ferrotungsten and scrap stay cautious
Tungsten powder and tungsten carbide powder were quoted around RMB 975/kg and RMB 925/kg on the price board, while Chinatungsten Online described actual transactions as often involving concessions to secure orders. For carbide tool factories, this keeps replacement-cost assumptions sensitive even when headline prices look stable.
The 70% ferrotungsten price remained at RMB 660,000/ton as firm raw-material costs met weak off-season demand from special steel and casting users. Scrap tungsten carbide also stayed balanced: recyclers resisted low offers, buyers resisted higher prices, and transaction pace slowed.
Price table — July 30, 2026 (Chinatungsten Online)
The following table summarizes the domestic Xiamen, China price references shown by Chinatungsten Online on July 30, 2026. The exchange-rate references on the source board were USD/RMB 6.7606 and EUR/RMB 7.7415.
| Product | Price | YTD Change |
|---|---|---|
| 65% WO3 wolframite concentrate | RMB 415,000/ton | Stable on the day |
| 55% WO3 wolframite concentrate | RMB 411,000/ton | Stable on the day |
| 65% WO3 scheelite concentrate | RMB 414,000/ton | Stable on the day |
| 55% WO3 scheelite concentrate | RMB 410,000/ton | Stable on the day |
| 70% W ferrotungsten | RMB 660,000/ton | Stable on the day |
| Ammonium paratungstate (88.5% WO3) | RMB 610,000/ton | Supported by raw-material cost |
| Tungsten powder (99.9%, 2–10um) | RMB 975/kg | Stable on the day |
| Tungsten carbide powder (99.8%, 2–10um) | RMB 925/kg | Stable on the day |
| Tungsten bar (99.95%) | RMB 1,070/kg | Stable on the day |
| Tungsten wire (99.95%, 26–35um) | RMB 38/km | Stable on the day |
| Cobalt powder (99.5%, 1.0–1.5um) | RMB 465/kg | Weak demand pressure |
| Scrap tungsten carbide rod | RMB 760/kg | Narrow fluctuation |
| Scrap tungsten carbide blade | RMB 610/kg | Narrow fluctuation |
Source: Chinatungsten Online · YTD = Year-to-date change from Jan 1, 2026 · WoW = Week-on-week
What this means for carbide tool buyers
- WC powder at RMB 925/kg and tungsten powder at RMB 975/kg keep solid carbide drill and end mill costs sensitive to powder replacement prices.
- APT holding near RMB 610,000/ton suggests factories may keep quote validity short until major monthly contract prices are clearer.
- Cobalt powder at RMB 465/kg can affect grade economics for carbide rods, especially where toughness and cobalt content are part of the specification.
- Scrap tungsten carbide rod at RMB 760/kg matters for recycling-linked cost assumptions and for factories managing carbide rod inventory.
- When spot liquidity is thin, buyers should separate catalog reorder pricing from custom tool quotes based on new carbide rod purchases.
Procurement note
Use the July 30 sideways window to confirm urgent repeat sizes, but avoid treating the current level as a long-term floor. For custom carbide tools, send the drawing, diameter list, work material, coating requirement and annual quantity before asking for price protection.
Carbide tools from our Changzhou factory
Factory-direct solid carbide coolant drills for deep holes, stable chip evacuation and heat control.
Standard carbide drills for steel, stainless steel, cast iron and general precision holemaking.
Factory-ground carbide end mills for slotting and profiling with coating options for aluminum and steel.
Carbide ball end mills for mold, die, 3D contour and finishing applications.
Corner-radius carbide end mills for stronger cutting edges and stable semi-finishing or finishing.
Outlook
Near-term tungsten pricing may remain range-bound until buyers see stronger downstream demand or clearer monthly contract guidance from leading tungsten enterprises. Mine supply, end-user demand and export policy remain the main signals to watch.
Solid Carbide Direct will continue tracking tungsten concentrate, APT, tungsten powder, tungsten carbide powder, cobalt powder, ferrotungsten and scrap tungsten carbide indicators to help machining buyers plan raw-material-sensitive tooling budgets.
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