
CME Plans World's First Tungsten Futures As Booming Missile Demand May Spark Severe 2030 Shortage
CME Group announced the launch of the first tungsten futures contract, settling against Fastmarkets' Western APT benchmark, with trading expected to begin in early Q1 2027. The move addresses a market currently reliant on spot pricing and reflects mounting supply constraints driven by Chinese export restrictions, resource nationalism, and rising Western military demand—with analysts projecting a structural deficit by 2030. The contract provides hedging and forward-price discovery for producers like Almonty Industries, miners, and manufacturers seeking visibility into a market where spot tungsten prices have retreated from $3,000/ton highs but remain elevated versus historical levels.












