Securing the tungsten supply chain: CERATIZIT’s strategy for resilience and sustainability

Tungsten is one of the most critical raw materials in the tooling industry, prized for its hardness, wear resistance, and thermal stability. At CERATIZIT, ensuring a secure and sustainable tungsten supply is a strategic priority—especially as more than 80% of global tungsten production is concentrated in China. To mitigate dependency and risk, the company has developed a robust, diversified sourcing model that combines recycling leadership, strategic mining partnerships, and advanced infrastructure investments.

Building resilience through diversification

CERATIZIT’s supply strategy is designed to guarantee stability and independence. By integrating multiple sourcing channels, the company maintains consistent quality and availability of tungsten materials even in volatile markets. The foundation of this strategy is a strong commitment to circularity and recycling.

Leading in tungsten recycling

In 2024, CERATIZIT reached an impressive 91% tungsten recycling rate—an advancement that follows the Plansee Group’s already remarkable 88%. This achievement is the result of an extensive recycling network that includes buy-back agreements with customers, advanced sorting systems for scrap collection, and centralized recycling operations managed by Global Tungsten & Powders (GTP).

Two state-of-the-art technologies form the backbone of the recycling process:

• Thermal-mechanical recycling (zinc process), which produces ready-to-press tungsten powder directly from sorted scrap.
• Chemical recycling, which extracts pure tungsten metal or carbide chemically identical to mined material, through processes similar to traditional ore refining.

These methods enable CERATIZIT to maintain top-tier product quality while drastically reducing reliance on primary raw materials.

Investing in strategic infrastructure

CERATIZIT has strengthened its recycling and sourcing network by integrating Stadler, Europe’s largest tungsten scrap trader, into its operations. GTP plays a central role in processing and coordination across the Plansee Group, ensuring efficiency, consistency, and full traceability.

Long-term mining partnerships

To further enhance supply stability, CERATIZIT has established strategic contracts with mines in Central America and the Iberian Peninsula. The company is also investing in the reopening of the Sangdong mine in South Korea, expected to supply 20% of global western tungsten ore concentrates by 2026. Through the Plansee Group’s 15% stake in Almonty Industries—the operator of Sangdong—CERATIZIT secures privileged access to critical resources.

Responsible and transparent sourcing

Every tungsten source in CERATIZIT’s portfolio complies with the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) standards. The company ensures certified origin from validated smelters, maintains end-to-end documentation for full traceability, and partners only with trusted operators committed to ethical and sustainable mining. This responsible approach complements primary sourcing with circular resource management.

What this means for customers

CERATIZIT’s integrated tungsten supply chain strategy ensures:

• Security – protection from geopolitical disruptions and market fluctuations.
• Sustainability – alignment with environmental and circular economy goals.
• Resilience – guaranteed access to high-quality tungsten materials for the long term.

By combining innovation, responsibility, and strategic foresight, CERATIZIT is setting a benchmark for sustainable supply chain management in the metalworking industry.