Almonty Industries is restoring the Sangdong mine in South Korea to become an exclusive supplier of strategic tungsten to the United States. The mine holds the world's most promising reserves outside China, aiding US efforts to diversify supply chains for defense needs. Commercial production is set to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
Almonty Industries, a global producer of tungsten concentrate from conflict-free regions, is restoring the closed Sangdong mine in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, to establish it as a key tungsten facility. Outside China, which supplies over 80 percent of the world's tungsten, the Korean mine holds the most promising reserves of scalable quantity and rare quality, confirmed by years of sample testing.
As the US seeks to reduce reliance on tungsten from China, Russia, and North Korea for defense purposes starting in 2027, Almonty has emerged as a vital partner for the US government and companies. Following its July 2025 Nasdaq listing that raised $90 million, Almonty executives rang the Opening Bell on November 26, 2025 (local time). Chairman Lewis Black stated, “(The Nasdaq event) marks an important milestone in a journey that began over a decade ago with a simple but vital mission: to rebuild safe Western supply chains for tungsten.”
The Sangdong mine is projected to supply about 40 percent of global demand not met by China, Russia, and North Korea, which together provide 87 percent. This positions it as a crucial alternative for defense, semiconductor, and aerospace sectors. Almonty's US partnerships grew this year: a March 2025 strategic deal with American Defense International (ADI); May 2025 supply contracts with Tungsten Parts Wyoming (TPW) for at least 40 metric tons of tungsten oxide monthly and Metal Tech in Israel; and a November 2025 acquisition of the Gentung-Browns Lake project in Montana for $9.75 million.
In June 2025, the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent a letter to Almonty, inquiring about Sangdong's production and offering assistance. The letter noted, “The U.S. remains heavily import-dependent, mostly on China. This dependency poses a significant risk to our defense industrial base.” Black responded, “This recognition from U.S. congressional leaders affirms that Almonty’s Sangdong project is far more than a commercial endeavor — it is a strategic infrastructure vital to the security and resilience of the U.S. and allied supply chains.”
Almonty gained control in 2015 by acquiring Woulfe Mining and began development in 2016. The mine's high-grade ore supports 100 years of production, with commercial operations under Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp. starting in Q1 2027. On December 4, 2025, Director Kang Dong-hoon spoke at Seoul National University about the mine's role in stabilizing global chains using eco-friendly tech. In October 2025, CFO Brian Fox signed an MOU with the Yeongwol Industrial Promotion Agency for joint development. Fox said, “These initiatives will strengthen the county’s local economy and promote the company’s coexistence with the local community.”
