On February 4, 2025, China's Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs jointly issued an announcement on implementing export controls on tungsten and related items. APT, as one of 25 rare metal products and technologies, was included in the scope of export controls. This measure has attracted widespread international attention. So, why is China implementing export controls on ammonium paratungstate?
I. Ammonium Paratungstate: The Core Intermediate in the Tungsten Industry Chain
Ammonium paratungstate (APT), a crucial tungsten compound, is commonly found in white crystalline form, soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol. APT serves as a key intermediate in tungsten smelting and processing and is an essential raw material for producing various tungsten products. Its purity directly affects the performance of downstream materials. Through high-temperature reduction processes, APT can be converted into tungsten powder and tungsten carbide, which are further used to manufacture cemented carbide, tungsten wire, electronic materials, and other products. As the world's largest producer of APT, China accounts for over 60% of global annual production.
II. Irreplaceable Role in National Defense and Military Industries
APT has a wide range of applications, spanning carbide tools, catalysts, electronic materials, military industries, aerospace, and more.
Carbide Tools: APT generates tungsten carbide through reduction and carbonization processes, serving as the core material for manufacturing carbide tools (such as cutting tools, drills, and mining tools). Carbide tools play an irreplaceable role in industrial production due to their high hardness and wear resistance.
Chemical Catalysts: APT can be used as a raw material for preparing tungsten-based catalysts, which play a crucial role in processes such as oil hydrogenation refining, exhaust gas treatment, and purification.
Electronic and Semiconductor Materials: APT is used to produce high-purity tungsten materials, such as tungsten wire and electrode materials, which are widely used in the electronic industry and semiconductor manufacturing.
Military Industries and Aerospace: Tungsten materials derived from APT have high density, hardness, and melting points, making them the core raw material for military equipment such as armor-piercing bullets. Meanwhile, tungsten materials serve as high-temperature structural materials in aircraft components, exhibiting superior heat resistance and serving as key materials for turbine blades and nozzle components.
Nuclear Industry: High-density tungsten alloy products produced from APT, serving as shielding materials in nuclear reactors, can effectively absorb radiation and ensure the safety of nuclear facilities. Their shielding properties are also applied in medical equipment.
III. Strategic Considerations in the Current International Situation
The global political and economic landscape is increasingly turbulent, with globalization showing signs of reversal, and overseas trade protectionism gradually intensifying. In this context, the possession and protection of critical strategic resources are more important than ever.
National Security and Non-proliferation Obligations: As a major global producer and exporter of tungsten and related items, China has long firmly fulfilled international obligations such as non-proliferation and implemented export controls on specific related items in accordance with the law to safeguard national security and interests.
Countermeasures Against Technology Blockades: The United States has restricted semiconductor exports to China through the Chips and Science Act and repeatedly imposed tariffs on China on national security grounds. China is taking legal countermeasures by controlling resources.
Supply Chain Autonomy: China has formed a closed loop of the entire industry chain from mining to recycling. Control measures have strengthened its voice in resource matters, forcing Western countries to restructure their supply chains, which will be difficult to overcome technical barriers in the short term.
In summary, China's implementation of export controls on ammonium paratungstate is both a necessary measure to safeguard national security and a proactive move in international rule-making games.
