U.S. Government National Defense Stockpile Tungsten Statistics In 20

This table presents detailed statistics on tungsten held within the U.S. Government National Defense Stockpile, including year-end inventory levels, annual materials plans, sales, and inventory changes for the fiscal and calendar year 2021. Tungsten is a critical strategic material widely used in defense applications, such as armor-piercing ammunition and high-temperature alloys, making its availability and management vital for national security and industrial stability. Tracking these statistics helps assess the government’s capacity to support defense needs and respond to supply disruptions in the global tungsten market.

In 2021, the year-end inventory of tungsten ores and concentrates stood at 6,850 metric tons for the fiscal year and 6,570 metric tons for the calendar year, while tungsten metal powder inventories were zero. The annual materials plan called for the disposal or sale of 1,360 metric tons of ores and concentrates and 125 metric tons of tungsten metal powder, totaling 1,490 metric tons. Actual sales were lower than planned, with 770 metric tons of ores and concentrates and 93 metric tons of metal powder sold, amounting to 863 metric tons overall. The inventory decreased by 813 metric tons (fiscal year) and 1,030 metric tons (calendar year) for ores and concentrates, and by 107 and 93 metric tons respectively for metal powder, reflecting a net reduction in stockpile levels. These figures indicate a strategic drawdown of tungsten materials, possibly to meet defense or industrial demands, while maintaining a substantial reserve to mitigate supply risks.