GEM, one of China’s largest tungsten recyclers, reported shipments of 4,281 tonnes (tungsten carbide basis) of tungsten products made from recovered tungsten in the first three quarters of 2026, up 122.96% on the same period last year. The figure is one company’s, but it shows how fast the recycled loop is growing.
The numbers
| Item | Reported |
|---|---|
| Recycled tungsten products shipped, first three quarters 2026 | 4,281 t (tungsten carbide basis) |
| Change on the same period of 2025 | +122.96% |
| Share of tungsten demand met by recycling (industry estimate) | About 35% |
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Some headlines describe the growth as a third-quarter figure, while the summary describes the volume as covering the first nine months. The source does not make the period clear, so treat the growth rate as indicative.
Why it matters
- Recycled supply is the fastest to respond. A mine takes years. A recycler can lift output when scrap is available.
- It competes with primary material. More recycled supply gives carbide makers an alternative to buying APT or ore, which can cap the price of both.
- Scrap is the raw material. Recycler growth means growing demand for drill bits, inserts and rods, including Indian material. See Kyocera and Indian scrap.
- Policy shapes the flow. Export controls on scrap in the US and elsewhere decide where scrap can go. See US scrap export controls.
Limits
One company’s reported shipments do not describe the whole market. Recycling also cannot replace mining: some defence uses cannot use recycled tungsten, and the supply picture is in where the shortage is.
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