Global Tungsten Carbide Market - 2023-2030

Market Overview

The Global Tungsten Carbide Market reached US$ 20.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 34.7 billion by 2030, growing with a CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

The Global Tungsten Carbide Market is slated to witness a significant increase in demand from the manufacturing industry. Strong expansion of the manufacturing sector in China, the setting up of new manufacturing projects in India and the U.S. efforts to attract more high-tech manufacturing are major factors in increasing demand for tungsten carbide tools.

Major tungsten carbide manufacturers will likely expand their manufacturing operations in developing countries to cater to the growing local demand. For instance, in December 2022, United Wolfram, a multinational metallurgy company, opened a new Tungsten manufacturing plant in Gujarat, India.

Market Dynamics

Expansion of Global Manufacturing Activities

The manufacturing sector has witnessed strong growth after the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, China's manufacturing PMI grew to 52.6 in February 2023 from 50.1 in January 2023, registering the fastest expansion since 2012. India's manufacturing PMI increased to an all-time high of 58.7 in May 2023.

The expansion of the manufacturing sector will create renewed demand for tungsten carbide machine tools and components. Tungsten carbide is essential for machining, cutting, drilling, and shaping materials in manufacturing processes. As industries expand and production capacities increase, the demand for tungsten carbide tools is expected to rise significantly.

Growing Infrastructure Development in Emerging Countries

Emerging countries are heavily investing in infrastructure development to raise living standards for their population and drive economic growth. A majority of the infrastructure development currently occurs in countries in Asia-Pacific. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that Asia-Pacific spends US$ 881 billion on infrastructure annually. The bank further estimates that spending needs to increase to US$ 1.7 trillion annually to maintain economic growth momentum.

Due to its hardness, tungsten carbide is widely used in electric saw and drill bits for drilling equipment. The ongoing construction of new ports, airports, expressways, bridges, high-speed rail and urban mass transit systems is expected to significantly increase the demand for tungsten carbide in the short and medium term.

Volatility in Tungsten Prices

Tungsten carbide relies on tungsten metal as a primary raw material. Tungsten is a relatively scarce resource, and its price is subject to fluctuations due to various factors such as supply-demand dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and macroeconomic conditions. Tungsten prices remain relatively high, within US$ 320-350 per MTU (metric ton units) from January to May 2023.

The price volatility of tungsten can significantly impact the manufacturing and production processes of tungsten carbide. When tungsten prices rise, manufacturers may face higher costs for acquiring raw materials, which can strain their profitability. Volatility in tungsten prices can prevent capital expenditure on new projects, thus reducing demand and restraining the growth of the Global Tungsten Carbide Market.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains and caused economic uncertainty, affecting various industries, including the tungsten carbide market. The restrictions on movement and manufacturing imposed by governments worldwide led to a decline in industrial activities and reduced demand for tungsten carbide products.

Additionally, the slowdown in mining and manufacturing sectors, which are significant end-users of tungsten carbide, further impacted market growth. However, as the global economy recovered in the aftermath of the pandemic and industries regained growth momentum, the demand for tungsten carbide has rebounded and is expected to remain strong over the coming years.

Ukraine-Russia War Impact

Since Russia is a major global producer of tungsten, producing nearly 2300 metric tons in 2022, the Ukraine-Russia war has disrupted tungsten supplies and created short-term price volatility in the international markets. It is expected that other major tungsten producers, such as China, will fill the gap Russia left.

Energy prices have increased significantly in Europe, mainly due to Russia's disruption of natural gas supplies. It has dramatically reduced the competitiveness of European tungsten carbide manufacturers. It presents a significant opportunity to Asian manufacturers to capture a large market share.

Segment Analysis

The Global Tungsten Carbide Market is segmented based on grade, application, end-user and region.

Rising Energy Demand will Boost the Growth of the Oil and Gas Industry

Oil and gas accounts for a quarter of the market share of the global tungsten carbide market. Multinational energy companies exploit offshore oil and gas reserves to offset stagnating production in existing fields and cater to rising energy demand as industrialization kicks off in developing countries.

Tungsten carbide is extensively used in drilling and exploration activities in the oil and gas sector. Tungsten carbide drill bits and cutting tools exhibit exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and heat resistance, making them suitable for challenging drilling conditions. The oil and gas industry operates in harsh environments involving abrasive substances, high temperatures, and corrosive fluids. Tungsten carbide is utilized in wear-resistant components such as valve balls, seats, seals, nozzles, and bearings.

Geographical Analysis

Reshoring of the Manufacturing Industry is Likely to Augment Market Growth in North America

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, North American countries, especially U.S., is attempting to recoup their competitive edge in manufacturing and moving high-tech manufacturing back to North America. The U.S. government has rolled out various subsidies and incentives to return American and multinational companies to the region.

The U.S. Congress has passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS Act, which allocated billions in new subsidies for various manufacturing sectors. Since the passage of the acts in late 2022, companies have committed more than US$ 200 billion in new manufacturing projects, more than double that of 2021 and 2022. In January 2023, Samsung announced that its new US$ 17 billion semiconductor fab in Texas, U.S., will commence operations by the end of 2023.

The proliferation of new manufacturing projects will significantly boost demand for various types of tungsten carbide machine tools and other components.

Competitive Landscape

The major global players include: Sandvik AB, Kennametal Inc., CERATIZIT S.A., Federal Carbide Company, GuangDong XiangLu Tungsten Co. Ltd., JAPAN NEW METALS CO. LTD, China Tungsten, Chongyi Zhang Yuan Tungsten Co. Ltd, Merck KGaA and H.C. GmbH.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the Global Tungsten Carbide Market segmentation based on grade, application, end-user and region, and understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous tungsten carbide market-level data points with all segments.
• PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
• Product mapping available as Excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The Global Tungsten Carbide Market Report Would Provide Approximately 57 Tables, 66 Figures And 205 pages.

Target Audience 2023

• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies