Tungsten Needs Rise as US Import Reliance Hits Defense

Defense manufacturers face material shortages as the U.S. seeks to replace thousands of units of C-RAM ammunition.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Manufacturing

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of stacked industrial metal canisters, representing supply chain dependencies for raw defense materials. — Defense manufacturers face critical tungsten supply shortages as the U.S. looks to replenish C-RAM ammunition stocks following recent combat operations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the U.S. government prioritize domestic production for minerals critical to national defense systems?

As of October 2026, recent estimates show a requirement for 4,000 kilograms of tungsten to replenish C-RAM ammunition expended during the war in Iran. This supply challenge highlights broader U.S. industrial vulnerabilities regarding critical mineral import reliance.

Why it matters

The heavy reliance on foreign markets for essential raw materials forces domestic manufacturers to navigate significant supply chain volatility. With the U.S. having ceased commercial tungsten mining in 2015, defense-related procurement must contend with global concentration in production.

China produced 67,000 metric tons of tungsten in 2025, accounting for 79% of the 85,000-ton global total. As of December 2025, the U.S. maintained 100% import reliance for 12 critical minerals.

The players

Department of War

The federal agency responsible for national defense strategy, logistics, and military procurement.

Alcoa

A global producer of bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products operating large-scale refineries.

The details

The requirement for 4,000 kilograms of tungsten stems from the need to replace C-RAM ammunition utilized during the initial 16 days of conflict in Iran, during which coalition forces expended 11,294 munitions at an estimated cost of $26 billion. To mitigate similar mineral dependencies for gallium, the Department of War announced a $174 million investment on August 31, 2026, in an Australian facility expected to produce 100 metric tons annually.

2015: U.S. halted commercial tungsten mining.
2025: China accounted for 79% of global tungsten output.
December 2025: U.S. had 100% reliance for 12 minerals.
August 31, 2026: Department of War announced gallium facility investment.
October 2026: Estimate identified tungsten requirement.

Market Landscape

The tungsten supply gap illustrates the operational risks inherent in the U.S. maintaining 100% net import reliance for 12 critical minerals. This dependency marks a departure from domestic extraction capabilities that effectively ceased in 2015.

Operators reliant on specialized alloys should monitor domestic mineral procurement policies as the government shifts focus toward securing primary production sites. Diversifying supply chains away from highly concentrated markets remains a primary hedge against future commodity price spikes.

The takeaway

The concentration of mineral production in China creates a bottleneck for essential defense manufacturing that requires long-term capital re-investment. Business leaders should audit their own dependency on critical imported inputs and track the progress of government-backed domestic facilities.