[News] China’s Tungsten Carbide and Powder Exports to Japan Reportedly Drop to Zero in Feb–Apr as Prices Surge
The standoff between Japan and China over critical materials and rare earths shows no sign of easing. According to Kyodo News, citing data from China’s General Administration of Customs, exports of tungsten carbide and tungsten powder from China to Japan dropped to zero between February and April.
A separate report from Nikkei explains that in February 2025, China brought tungsten and other materials under its export control regime, reinforcing its dominance with roughly 80% of global supply. As a result, Japan’s imports of the restricted items plunged 50% in April 2026 compared with the 2025 monthly average, the report suggests.
Against this backdrop, Kyodo News points out that domestic companies in Japan are rushing to secure alternative sources, but prices for related materials have surged more than threefold, raising concerns over higher production costs.
According to the report, Sumitomo Electric Industries, which supplies cutting tools for automotive and aerospace manufacturing, has historically sourced about 30% of its raw materials from China. The company is now expanding procurement from the U.S. and other regions to mitigate supply risks, while raising prices by up to 60% to reflect higher costs, Kyodo News reports.
Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Materials has more than tripled prices for tungsten-based cemented carbide products on June orders, the report adds.
Japanese Manufacturers Step Up Tungsten Supply Push
As highlighted by the Economic Daily News, Japan has virtually no domestic tungsten reserves and remains heavily dependent on China for industrial tungsten inputs. For critical materials such as chip-grade tungsten hexafluoride and military-grade high-purity tungsten powder, reliance on China reaches as high as 100%, the report explains.
As China tightens export controls on tungsten, Japanese manufacturers are accelerating efforts to reduce exposure to Chinese supply chains. According to an April Nikkei report, Sumitomo Electric Industries plans to build a new tungsten production facility with an investment of ¥15.9 billion (about $100 million), which is expected to lift production capacity by around 50%.
Mitsubishi Materials is also planning to significantly expand processing capacity at its facilities in Akita, Japan, and Germany, according to Kyodo News.
To fortify these corporate self-reliance efforts at an industry-wide level, Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA) announced on June 2 that it has revised its guidelines to prevent tungsten-based cemented carbide scrap from flowing overseas, Nikkei reports. Japan’s recycling utilization rate for tungsten scrap stands at around 20%, leaving significant room for expansion compared with 50–60% in Europe, the report notes.
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(Photo credit: Sumitomo Electric)
