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Tungsten Price Today
Last updated: April 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT ET · Source: COMEX / LBMA
Calculate Tungsten Value
1 Grams (g) of Tungsten
$932.37
Spot price: $29,000.00/oz
Rate: 1 USD = 1 USD
Approximate value - excludes taxes, premiums
Exchange rates are indicative. Actual buy/sell prices include dealer premiums. Not financial advice.
Price by Weight
| Unit | USD Price |
|---|---|
| Troy Ounce (oz t) | $29,000.00 |
| Gram (g) | $932.37 |
| Kilogram (kg) | $932,370.96 |
| Tola (10g) | $9,323.71 |
| Pennyweight (dwt) | $1,450.00 |
Price by Currency (per troy oz)
| Currency | Price |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸USD | $29,000.00 |
| 🇨🇦CAD | CA$39,440.00 |
| 🇪🇺EUR | €26,680.00 |
| 🇬🇧GBP | £22,910.00 |
| 🇦🇺AUD | A$44,660.00 |
| 🇨🇭CHF | Fr26,100.00 |
| 🇯🇵JPY | ¥4,451,500 |
| 🇮🇳INR | ₹2,418,600 |
Exchange rates are approximate. Source: COMEX / LBMA
About Tungsten
Tungsten (chemical symbol W, from the Swedish "wolfram") holds the title of hardest metal and the highest melting point of any element at 3,422°C — more than three times the melting point of iron. These extreme properties make tungsten irreplaceable in applications where other materials would fail: cutting tools for machining hardened steel, armor-piercing ammunition, rocket nozzles, and high-temperature industrial components.
China controls approximately 80% of global tungsten production, with significant reserves concentrated in Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guangdong provinces. Major Chinese producers include Xiamen Tungsten and China Tungsten and Hightech. China also dominates tungsten processing and the production of tungsten carbide — the hardened composite material used in the vast majority of cutting tools, drill bits, and wear-resistant components.
Non-Chinese tungsten production is limited. Significant sources include Vietnam (Masan Resources' Nui Phao mine), Russia, Canada (North American Tungsten), and smaller operations in Bolivia, Portugal, and Austria. The extreme supply concentration has led the US, EU, and other Western governments to classify tungsten as a critical mineral, with efforts underway to develop alternative supply chains.
Defense applications make tungsten particularly strategic. Tungsten heavy alloys (WHAs) are used in kinetic energy penetrators for anti-tank rounds, radiation shielding, counterweights in aircraft, and gyroscopes. As geopolitical tensions with China have increased, Western defense planners have grown increasingly concerned about tungsten supply security, accelerating efforts to develop domestic or allied nation supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is tungsten so hard?
Tungsten's extreme hardness stems from its atomic structure — it has the highest melting point of any element (3,422°C), strongest tensile strength at temperatures above 1,650°C, and very high density (19.3 g/cm³, similar to gold). These properties arise from exceptionally strong metallic bonds between tungsten atoms. Tungsten carbide (WC), formed by combining tungsten with carbon, is even harder and is used in cutting tool tips, drill bits, and wear-resistant coatings.
What is tungsten carbide used for?
Tungsten carbide accounts for the largest share of tungsten consumption. It is used in: cutting tools for metalworking, woodworking, and mining; drill bits for oil, gas, and construction; wear-resistant coatings and dies; mining and tunneling equipment; and consumer products like premium watch cases and wedding rings. Its hardness (9-9.5 on the Mohs scale, approaching diamond at 10) makes it ideal wherever extreme wear resistance is needed.
How is tungsten used in defense?
Tungsten's extreme density makes it ideal for kinetic energy penetrators — projectiles that defeat armor through sheer velocity and mass rather than explosives. M829 APFSDS rounds (used in Abrams tanks) use tungsten heavy alloy penetrators. Tungsten is also used in radiation shielding (medical and nuclear applications), gyroscopes, counterweights in aircraft and missiles, and as a substitute for depleted uranium in applications where radioactivity is a concern.
Why does China dominate tungsten production?
China holds approximately 60% of global tungsten reserves, primarily in skarn and vein-type deposits in southern China. The country built its processing and manufacturing dominance over decades, controlling everything from mine to finished cemented carbide products. China has periodically restricted tungsten exports through quotas and tariffs to manage domestic supply and support its domestic industry — a pattern similar to its rare earth strategy.
Can tungsten be recycled?
Yes — tungsten has one of the highest recycling rates of any metal, with recycled tungsten accounting for approximately 35% of total supply. Cemented carbide inserts and cutting tool tips are routinely collected and recycled through chemical processing (zinc process or cold stream process). The high value and concentrated use patterns of tungsten in cutting tools make recycling economically attractive and well-established industrially.