In the first half of 2025, China’s tungsten product exports were 7,257.99 tons, decreased by 23.94% year-on-year. Among these, tungsten powder exports were 659.23 tons, decreased by 29.53%; tungsten wire exports were 191.94 tons, increased by 11.87%; tungsten carbide exports were 588.57 tons, decreased by 71.48%; ammonium paratungstate exports were 162.50 tons, decreased by 42.52%; and tungsten trioxide exports were 350.48 tons, decreased by 76.24%.

In the first half of 2025, China’s tungsten product imports were 8,698.06 tons, increased by 17.74% year-on-year. Among these, tungsten powder imports were 23.01 tons, increased by 46.56%; tungsten wire imports were 2,466 kilograms, decreased by 9.30%; tungsten carbide imports were 38.78 tons, decreased by 35.82%; ammonium paratungstate imports were 5 kilograms, increased by 25.00%; and tungsten trioxide imports were 6,837 kilograms, decreased by 88.83%.

Tungsten probe is a precision testing tool made from high-purity tungsten, widely used for inspecting tiny components and electrical performance testing in the electronics, electrical, and semiconductor industries. 

The U-shaped EB tungsten filament is a high-purity tungsten wire heating element bent into a U shape, widely used in electron beam evaporation coating equipment.

Thorium tungsten rod is a tungsten alloy bar containing 2% thorium oxide, known for its excellent high-temperature strength, resistance to electron emission, and thermal stability. 

Cleaned Tungsten Wire, also known as white tungsten wire, does not refer to tungsten wire with a white surface, but refers to tungsten wire that has been electrolytically washed and polished. The surface of this tungsten wire is smooth and clean, without graphite emulsion attached, and presents a silver-gray metallic luster.

The black surface of black tungsten wire is mainly because graphite emulsion is sprayed during the drawing process. As a lubricant, graphite emulsion can effectively reduce the friction coefficient between the tungsten wire and the drawing die, reduce the risk of tungsten wire breakage during the drawing process, and extend the service life of the drawing die. After the graphite emulsion adheres to the surface of the tungsten wire, a thin black coating will be formed, which is also the source of the appearance characteristics of black tungsten wire. The graphite layer can be removed by alkaline washing.

In the photovoltaic field, tungsten wire is generally used as a diamond wire base material for silicon wafer cutting. It has high toughness, high tensile strength, high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance and other characteristics. Compared with traditional high-carbon steel wire, tungsten wire has great potential for wire diameter refinement. At present, the diameter of tungsten wire used in diamond wire saws in the photovoltaic industry is about 25-35μm, which is only half the diameter of an adult hair. The diameter of high-carbon steel wire is usually 30-60μm. Wire diameter refinement can effectively reduce silicon wafer loss, meet the requirements of large-size and thin silicon wafer cutting, and help the photovoltaic industry reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Tungsten wire is suitable for heating elements of electrically heated glass windows due to its high temperature resistance and resistance effect. Its working principle is to embed ultra-fine tungsten wire into the glass interlayer, generate resistance heat by powering on, and evenly heat the glass surface, thereby achieving functions such as rapid defrosting, anti-fogging and temperature regulation. This technology can be applied to automobile windshields and rearview mirrors, aircraft windows and smart glass for buildings.

In May 2025, China’s molybdenum product exports were 3,955.67 tons, increased by 25.60% year-on-year. Among these, molybdenum powder exports were 2.00 tons, decreased by 93.48%; molybdenum wire exports were 20.20 tons, decreased by 25.50%; ferro-molybdenum exports were 588.50 tons, decreased by 23.84%; ammonium molybdate exports were 15.31 tons, decreased by 62.29%; and other molybdenum products were 25.01 tons, increased by 24.90%.