Published 14 October 2026. Kyocera has said it will build a refining facility in Japan to recover tungsten carbide from used cutting tools. It is a small announcement with a clear direction behind it: companies outside China are building their own scrap-to-material loops. This page covers what was announced, what was not, and what it signals for Indian scrap holders.
What was announced
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company | Kyocera |
| What | A refining facility at one of its Japanese plants to recover tungsten carbide from used cutting tools |
| Start | Operations scheduled to begin in fiscal 2030 |
| Policy backing | Certified by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under its critical minerals supply program |
| Process | A proprietary “Amino Acid-Based Streamlined Process” that uses naturally derived amino acids and reduces the number of refining steps |
| Context | Kyocera already extends tool life, regrinds tools for reuse and collects used tools |
What was not disclosed
- The investment amount
- Processing capacity
- The exact plant location
- The number of process steps
Without capacity, nobody can say how much scrap this will take in. Treat any tonnage estimate as speculation.
Why Japan is doing this
The announcement says tungsten is a critical mineral used in cutting tools for cars and aircraft, in semiconductors and in electronic parts, and that Japan imports much of its tungsten. Recycling used tools turns a waste stream into a domestic source. The government certification shows it is policy, not only a company decision.
The wider pattern
Kyocera is not alone in the direction of travel. Companies in the West are building non-Chinese supply, such as Sangdong in Korea (see [our page on supply outside China](/sangdong-masan-elmet-tungsten-supply-outside-china-2026/)). Almonty says US defense procurement rules take effect on 1 January 2027 and will trace materials back to where the ore was mined. Recycled carbide is one answer, because its origin can be documented.
China’s export controls and the US scrap order mean ex-China buyers need sources they can prove. We cover this in [our page on tungsten scrap export restrictions](/tungsten-scrap-export-restrictions-us-vietnam-2026/).
What this means for Indian scrap holders (our view)
This section is our reading, not a quoted statement. The plant is four years away, so it changes nothing this month.
- Direction: buyers outside China are building the capacity to process used carbide. Over time that increases the value of clean, traceable scrap.
- Documentation: material with a known origin, grade and history is easier to sell to these buyers than mixed lots with no records.
- Grading: separate drill bits, inserts, rods and mixed scrap. Keep photos and weights.
- Timing: announcements like this are slow. Do not hold back sales waiting for a plant that starts in 2030.
If you hold carbide scrap, start with our [sell carbide scrap form](/sell-carbide-scrap/). Buyers and sellers can also register in the [Trade Directory](/trade-directory/).
This page is market information, not investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kyocera building?
A refining facility at one of its Japanese plants to recover tungsten carbide from used cutting tools. Operations are scheduled to begin in fiscal 2030.
Is the plant government supported?
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry certified the initiative under its critical minerals supply program. No funding amount was disclosed.
How much scrap will the plant process?
Unknown. Kyocera has not disclosed capacity, investment or the exact location.
Does this affect Indian scrap prices now?
Not directly. The plant starts in fiscal 2030. It shows the direction of the market: ex-China buyers are building recycling capacity.
How should Indian sellers prepare?
Sort by grade, keep weights and photos, and record where the material came from. Documented, graded scrap is easier to place with buyers who need to prove origin.
