There is an abundance of concern and discomfort with China’s grasp on the tungsten market. The Chinese government only exacerbates these sentiments with its export quota policy, which restricts how much of the metal can be sold outside of the country. As these quotas have become stricter, the world’s rations have gotten smaller.

A number of theories exist in the tungsten industry in regards to China’s motives for increasing its stranglehold on the metal. Some point to the nation’s rising domestic demand for tungsten and note that China’s producers are experiencing rising costs, falling grades, increasing environmental concerns, and stricter regulations. Some believe the Chinese may be stockpiling tungsten for future use.

Tungsten is practically the only material used for electron emitters.  Although other, more electropositive, metals would yield higher emission rates, the advantage of tungsten is its extremely low vapour pressure even at high temperatures.

This property is also important for electrical contact materials. While more conductive metals like copper or silver evaporate (erode) under the conditions of an electric arc, tungsten withstands these.

Tungsten is one of the most important components in modern integrated circuitry and tungsten-copper heat sinks are used to remove the heat of microelectronic devices. 

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The tungsten industry is largely characterized by dependence and uncertainty, but there is also the potential for profit. Tungsten prices have gone from about $180 to $430 per metric ton unit (mtu) over the course of three years. Last year, highs of up to $500/mtu were reported.

"That [the factors noted above] is why a company like IMC, which is 80 percent owned by Warren Buffet, would come to Woulfe Mining and want to purchase 25 percent of our tungsten project, and more importantly is guaranteeing to buy 90 to 100 percent of all the resource we can produce," said Smith.

He also said that people who have tungsten mines in operation, or about to come into operation outside of China, are in a very strong position not only to provide tungsten to the western world, but also to China, which has become a net importer of the metal.

But, Tungsten Investing News, asked Smith, are there other opportunities in the market like the Woulfe-IMC deal, where end users are looking to establish a relationship?

"Yes," he said. "I think that most people that are producing resources will be having similar conversations."

The interest in obtaining a supply outside of China is growing, and is a trend that is likely to continue. But while there are attractive opportunities, the risks must be assessed as well.

One risk is that China will engage in practices that reduce or impair competition in the mining space and among end users. This situation could occur in a variety of ways, such as through a restriction of supply or the flooding of the market and lowering of prices below economically viable levels.

To ignore these possibilities would be to overlook history. In the past, China has flooded the market with cheap tungsten, lowering the price the price of WO3 concentrate and APT, and causing exploration companies, miners, and, processors to close their businesses.

Ecclestone said, "the Chinese as both the largest producer and one of the main users have a vested interest in higher prices but that does not mean that they may not push prices down to achieve other policy or strategic goals."

With regard to supply disruptions that benefit Chinese toolmakers while hurting foreign competitors, Ecclestone noted that "if any investors doubt that that might happen then they would be naïve indeed."

This comment highlights one of the reasons why offtake agreements, contracts in which a buyer commits to future purchases, are especially attractive in the tungsten space. By signing them, miners are able to secure sales, a commitment that translates into reduced risk to equity investors.

While the metal is very much needed, it is also very scarce. Tungsten mines rarely produce more than 2,000 tons of ore per day, according to the International Tungsten Industry Association. Generally that ore contains less than 1.5 percent WO3 and frequently only a few tenths of a percent, meaning that large amounts of material must be processed to get relatively small amounts of metal.

Additionally, China is the dominant producer of tungsten, possessing the majority of known resources and the majority of known reserves. These two factors, along with the metal’s scarcity, contribute to the British Geological Survey’s listing of tungsten among the top items on its risk list.

When one recognizes the importance and the scarcity of this resource, the investment appeal becomes obvious. However, there is something that makes certain tungsten investments especially attractive, and that is location. World users are looking to secure supply outside of China.

Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten Picture Center: http://picture.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten Video Center: http://v.chinatungsten.com
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