Sangdong Mine Emerges as Key Non-China Tungsten Source for Semiconductors Amid Rising Demand and Export Controls

[SMM Tungsten Express] Apollo Minerals has identified additional tungsten mineralization zones at its Couflens project in France, expanding the drill target footprint around the historic Salau mine. Salau was historically one of the world's highest-grade tungsten operations, averaging 1.5% WO₃ over 15 years of production until 1986. The newly defined Veronique-Upper zone previously returned 4.3m at 1.3% WO₃, while the Veronique zone was mined at 2.5% WO₃ in the mine's final year. The company plans to initiate Phase 1 drilling in the near term.

[SMM Tungsten Express] Kazakhstan plans to develop the Northern Katpar and Upper Kairakty tungsten deposits into the country's first full-cycle tungsten operation, with ore processed domestically rather than exported as raw material. The two deposits contain combined JORC-compliant reserves of approximately 410,000 metric tons of WO₃ and total resources of 1.4 million tons. U.S.-based Cove Capital (70%) and Kazakh state miner Tau-Ken Samruk (30%) are developing the project, with Cove expected to provide at least $1.1 billion in financing. Planned APT production of approximately 12,000 tpa would represent roughly 15% of current global tungsten mine output. The Definitive Feasibility Study is expected to be completed by end-2027.

[Molybdenum Flash] SMM August 24 news: A mine in Heilongjiang sold molybdenum concentrates with a grade of 50%-55%, with the mine pricing at 5,440-5,460 yuan/mtu (cash and acceptance); for grades above 55%, the mine priced at 5,450-5,470 yuan/mtu (cash and acceptance). Trading volume to be counted.