76 Tungsten - Indian Bureau of Mines

TUNGSTEN
Table – 3 : World Mine Production of Tungsten
(By Principal Countries)
76-4
(In tonnes of metal content)
Country 2007 2008 2009
World: Total 57000 57600 62300
Austria 1117 1122 887
Bolivia 2501 1448 1290
Canada 2700 2795 2501
China 41000 43500 50000
Korea, Dem. People's Rep. of (e)
250 350 350
Portugal* 846 900 823
Russia* (e)
3200 3200 2400
Thailand* 823 582 600
Uzbekistan (e) 300 (e) 300 (e) 300 (e)
Other countries 4263 3403 3149
Source: World Mineral Production, 2005-2009.
* Wolframite & Scheelite.
Exports
FOREIGN TRADE
Exports of tungsten alloys and scrap
decreased to 79 tonnes in 2009-10 from 166 tonnes
in the previous year. Exports were mainly to USA
( 44%), Thailand (5%), UAE, Argentina and France
(4% each). There were no exports of tungsten ores
& concentrates in 2009-10 as against 15,915 tonnes
in the preceding year (Tables 4 and 5).
Imports
Imports of tungsten ores and concentrates
incresed to 87 tonnes in 2009-10 from 20 tonnes
in the previous year entirely from Belgium.
Imports of tungsten and alloys including scrap
increased to 356 tonnes in 2009-10 from 304 tonnes
in the previous year. Imports were mainly from China
(47%), Germany (19%), Republic of Korea (7%), Japan
(5%) and USA(4%) (Tables 6 to 8).
Brazil
Largo Resources Ltd. began the Currais Nouos
Project which would reprocess tailings to recover
about 830 tpy of tungsten along with 300 tpy
molybdenum. The company has agreement to take
over the tailings deposited over the years at Barra
Verde and Boca de Laje tungsten - Molybdenum
mines in Rio Grande do Norte state.
Canada
H.C. Starck GmbH had announced plans to
suspend expansion of its tungsten plant in
Sarnia, Ontario in early 2009 due to uneconomic
mining conditions. By year-end, the restart of the
proposed expansion to produce 4,500 tpy metal/
metal powder, carbide, etc. was under
consideration.
China
In order to conserve tungsten resources and
stabilise prices, the Government is regulating the
production and exports of tungsten concentrates.
Although world's leading tungsten producer,
China imported 4,700 tonnes tungsten in
concentrate. Chinese companies were involved
in tungsten mining projects in Australia and
Rwanda.