China Tungsten Industry Report, 2010-2011

China has 65% of the world’s tungsten ore reserves, and accounted for about 85% of the global total tungsten output in 2010. As of 2010, China’s tungsten metal reserves were only 1900 thousand tons, which can merely be utilized for 20 years at the current rate of depletion. In order to promote reasonable exploration and utilization, tungsten was classified among the protected resources in China in 1991, and policies on limitation of exploration and exportation have been implemented from then on.

In 2010, among tungsten concentrate producing areas in China, Jiangxi and Hunan provinces accounted for 44% and 24.01% respectively of the total output nationwide, up 8.14% and 22.52% from the year earlier. In most of the tungsten concentrate producing areas, the outputs exceeded the exploitation quotas made by the state.

Tungsten enterprises in China feature small size, large number and low production automation. In the meantime, tungsten products in China are mainly primary tungsten products with weak international competitiveness, which has accelerated the consumption of tungsten resources in China. However, with the increasing concentration of Chinese tungsten industry and enhanced product development ability, the overall competitiveness of China’s tungsten industry will be boosted in the future.

In China, there are 15 enterprises qualified for tungsten export. Enterprises with complete industrial chain both domestically and worldwide include Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd., Chongyi Zhangyuan Tungsten Co., Ltd., and Hunan Nonferrous Metals Holding Group Co., Ltd. Other enterprises with tungsten ore resources include Jiangxi Tungsten Industry Group Co., Ltd., Hunan Chenzhou Mining Group Co., Ltd., and Guangdong Rising Nonferrous Metals Group Co., Ltd.

Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd., the largest producer and exporter of tungsten and molybdenum products in China, is one of the best manufacturers of carbide blank and tungsten materials in the world, providing 25% of the total global consumption of primary tungsten.

Chongyi Zhangyuan tungsten Co., Ltd. is among top 2 providers of tungsten powder and tungsten carbide powder, and top 4 providers of cemented carbide in China.

Hunan Chenzhou Mining Group Co., Ltd., a key enterprise in China’s tungsten mining industry, has APT capacity of 5,000 tons annually.

Controlling five tungsten mines in the east of Guangdong province, Guangdong Rising Nonferrous Metals Group Co., Ltd. is mainly engaged in the mining and smelting of rare earth and tungsten.

Jiangxi Tungsten Industry Group Co., Ltd., accounting for 1/3 of the total wolframite concentrate capacity in China, occupies a considerable share in the intermediate tungsten product and deep processed product market.

XiangLuShan Tungsten Co., Ltd., with 22700 thousand tons of tungsten ore reserves and 142 thousand tons of tungsten metal reserves, is one of the biggest scheelite single crystal mines in terms of output in China.

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