How much tungsten does North Korea produce and export?
North Korea is the nullth largest producer of tungsten: 2,000 tonnes in 2025, 2.4% of the world's 85,000 tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the 3rd largest exporter by value: $31.4 million in 2024, 11% of world exports of tungsten ore and concentrate (HS 261100) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 100% of its tungsten exports by value.
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North Korea's tungsten production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 tonnes | 2.4% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
North Korea's tungsten exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $31.4 million | 11% | 3,628 t | $8,657 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 261100 (Tungsten ores and concentrates).
Where North Korea's tungsten goes
| Destination | Value | Share of North Korea's exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $31M | 100% |
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "North Korea tungsten: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/PRK/tungsten/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.