US PIVOTS TO RWANDA FOR TUNGSTEN IN SUPPLY CHAIN OVERHAUL

The first shipment of tungsten concentrate (WO3) from Trinity Metals’ Nyakabingo mine in Rwanda has arrived at the Pennsylvania facility of Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. (GTP). The delivery was witnessed by the U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda and the Deputy Rwandan Ambassador to the U.S., alongside representatives from Trinity Metals, GTP, and trader Traxys, highlighting the strategic significance of this new supply chain breakthrough. By Sunlight Xiang

This collaboration reflects shifting dynamics in global critical mineral competition and underscores Africa’s growing role in the strategic resources landscape.

In a related development, Ali Haji, CEO of Canadian exploration firm American Tungsten Corp. (CSE: TUNG), outlined the company’s progress during an August 15 interview at the METALS 100. The company is advancing high-grade tungsten and magnetite projects, rehabilitating the IMA Mine in Idaho, and expanding drilling to strengthen North America’s tungsten supply. The company has joined the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium to support the defense sector and completed an oversubscribed C$7M financing, demonstrating strong market confidence in its critical metals strategy.

Tungsten is indispensable in defense and aerospace applications—used in armor-piercing rounds, tank armor, missile components, and high-temperature systems—due to its exceptional density, hardness, and heat resistance. Supply security for tungsten is directly tied to the production and maintenance of advanced weapon systems and equipment. As a result, its pricing and availability are increasingly influenced by international relations and trade policies, not just market fundamentals.

In response to supply chain vulnerabilities, the U.S. government has classified tungsten as a critical mineral essential to economic security and national defense. However, the country has not produced tungsten domestically since 2015. Compounding this dependency, China currently accounts for approximately 83% of global tungsten supply, despite holding an estimated 42% of worldwide reserves. The successful delivery from Rwanda thus marks a tangible step toward diversifying U.S. sources of critical minerals.

Under a commercial agreement reached in August, GTP—the largest tungsten processor in the U.S. and a subsidiary of Austria’s Plansee Group—has commenced processing Rwandan tungsten into high-quality tungsten and tungsten carbide powders for industrial applications.Shawn McCormick, Chairman of Trinity Metals, established in 2022, emphasized the broader impact: We are proud to see material sourced from Rwanda being transformed into products that enhance U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

This partnership not only establishes a new supply route for the U.S. but also signals a strategic reorientation in global tungsten trade flows.