China’s tungsten market stabilized on July 29, 2026, but risk appetite stayed low. Essential-demand spot buying and slow downstream restocking kept carbide tool cost planning cautious.
China’s tungsten market continued to stabilize on July 29, 2026, but market risk appetite remained low. According to Chinatungsten Online, spot transactions were mainly driven by essential demand, and buyers were watching whether major tungsten producers would adjust long-term contract purchase prices for the coming month.
Market overview: stabilizing prices, low risk appetite
Supply support remained important. Domestic mining-output controls and normalized regulatory oversight limited the room for a quick increase in primary ore supply. At the same time, some holders treated tungsten as a strategic metal with future premium potential and were reluctant to sell aggressively at lower levels.
The demand side was less supportive. Traditional cemented carbide tool demand was affected by the hot season, while uncertainty about future prices slowed procurement. Powder and finished-product producers also faced pressure when passing raw-material costs downstream, which reduced active inventory replenishment.
Emerging demand helps the long term, but not immediate spot flow
Chinatungsten Online noted that high-purity tungsten materials and tungsten alloys still have long-term growth potential in semiconductors, medical technology and nuclear energy. For the current market, however, these applications account for a limited share of total demand and have not yet released enough large-scale orders to change the spot-market mood.
For carbide tool buyers, this means the market is not simply weak or strong. Tungsten concentrate, APT, tungsten powder, tungsten carbide powder, cobalt powder and scrap carbide are all stabilizing around levels that can still affect carbide rod replacement costs and quote validity.
Price table — July 29, 2026 (Chinatungsten Online)
The following table summarizes tungsten and cobalt prices reported by Chinatungsten Online on July 29, 2026. Peak drawdown and year-to-date changes follow the source text. The source price board also listed USD/RMB 6.7722 and EUR/RMB 7.7196.
| Продукт | Цена | Изменение |
|---|---|---|
| 65% wolframite concentrate | RMB 415,000/ton | −9.8% YTD |
| 65% scheelite concentrate | RMB 414,000/ton | −9.8% YTD |
| Ammonium paratungstate (APT) | RMB 610,000/ton | −9.0% YTD |
| European APT | USD 3,000–3,279/mtu (≈ RMB 1,796,000–1,963,000)/ton (equiv.) | +241.3% YTD |
| Tungsten powder | RMB 975/kg | −9.7% YTD |
| Tungsten carbide powder | RMB 925/kg | −11.1% YTD |
| Cobalt powder | RMB 465/kg | −10.6% YTD |
| 70% ferrotungsten | RMB 660,000/ton | +1.5% YTD |
| European ferrotungsten | USD 195–210/kg W (≈ RMB 923,000–995,000)/ton (equiv.) | +47.3% YTD |
| Scrap tungsten carbide rod | RMB 760/kg | +11.8% YTD |
| 55% WO3 wolframite concentrate | RMB 411,000/ton | Stable on the day |
| 55% WO3 scheelite concentrate | RMB 410,000/ton | 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 |
| Scrap tungsten carbide blade | RMB 610/kg | Stable on the day |
Цены указаны по источнику статьи; проверьте актуальные значения перед закупкой.
What this means for carbide tool buyers
- WC powder at RMB 925/kg and tungsten powder at RMB 975/kg still anchor solid carbide drill and end mill cost assumptions.
- APT at RMB 610,000/ton keeps factories alert to major producer contract-price changes before extending quote validity.
- Cobalt powder at RMB 465/kg affects carbide grade economics, especially for tougher grades with higher cobalt content.
- Scrap tungsten carbide rod at RMB 760/kg remains above the start of the year, so recycling and carbide rod replacement costs still matter.
- Buyers should confirm whether a tool quote is based on existing rod inventory, current spot replacement cost or expected August raw-material purchases.
Procurement note
Use the July 29 stabilization window to review urgent repeat sizes and update internal tooling budgets. For custom tools, share drawings, diameter lists, material grade, coating requirements and annual quantity before asking for firm 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
In the near term, tungsten pricing is likely to depend on monthly contract guidance from major tungsten producers and whether downstream end users increase procurement volume. Without stronger order flow, spot trading may stay essential-demand led.
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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