Tungsten Prices Surge in 2026 – June 2026 Update
Price Action Since April, Inventory Timing, and What to Do Now.
Since our April update, tungsten prices have remained at structurally high levels. European APT, which spiked significantly in March and April, settled into a range of $3,000–$3,200/MTU through early June. Market liquidity remains thin, and supply discipline continues to support these elevated prices.
It is important to understand that price increases may appear staggered across the market because suppliers purchase powder at different times. For example, a vendor that exhausted lower-cost inventory bought earlier in the year may only now be restocking at current APT levels, leading to a price increase weeks after the initial market move. Put simply: suppliers purchase powder at different times. If a vendor exhausted lower‑cost inventory bought earlier in the year and is now restocking at current APT, you will see price increases even weeks after the headline market move. Use this explanation when reviewing your open quotes and vendor behavior.
+0%
Price Change Since Feb 2025
+0%
Change since April 2026
$0-$3,200
MTU, European APT Pricing
(Record Level)
(Record Level)
-0%
Chinese Export Volume
What has changed since April:
Price Action
Prices have consolidated at historically high levels rather than collapsing — the rapid March-April spike established a new elevated base.
Chinese dynamics
Domestic Chinese pricing and export controls continue to influence global flows; export volumes remain constrained.
Supplier behavior
Price changes are staggered across suppliers because of inventory timing and lot purchase dates.
What this means for your operation
- Expect elevated procurement costs through the balance of 2026 unless major new supply ramps earlier than currently expected.
- Open quotes can appear inconsistent: don't assume every vendor is mis-pricing — check quote dates and powder purchase timing.
- The fastest, most reliable way to lower tungsten spend is operational — reduce consumption and recover material.
Operational mitigation — immediate actions that pay back quickly
Precision grinders
Install dedicated grinders to produce consistent tip geometry. Result: fewer rejects, better arc stability, and longer electrode life.
View Tungsten Grinders
Pre-ground electrodes
Move high-usage cells to pre-ground electrodes to eliminate variability, contamination, and in-cell grinding labor.
Explore Pre-Grount Tungsten
Electrode selection & process tuning
Standardize metallurgy by application (e.g., lanthanated 2% as baseline), optimize amperage and welding cycles, and reduce unnecessary starts/stops.
View Electrode Options
