Western Tungsten Supply Challenge Enters New Phase
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 days ago
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
- Surging Tungsten Prices: In May 2026, APT Rotterdam tungsten prices reached $3,185 per metric tonne, reflecting a 900% increase year-over-year, primarily driven by Chinese export licensing controls and the impending January 2027 DFARS procurement cliff, which tightens supply and raises production costs for related companies.
- Launch of Modern Exploration Program: On May 21, 2026, Western Star Resources announced that its technical team has mobilized to the Rowland tungsten property in Nevada to commence its 2026 field exploration program, utilizing modern drone geophysics and systematic soil geochemistry to generate drill-ready targets, thereby enhancing resource development efficiency.
- Enhanced Policy Support: The expansion of the Canadian CMETC tax framework provides a 30% non-refundable credit for tungsten exploration, coupled with the upcoming DFARS procurement restrictions, creating a favorable policy environment that promotes investment and development in Western tungsten mines, boosting market confidence.
- European Market Promotion: Western Star has engaged Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH under a €200,000 investor relations mandate, aimed at increasing the company's visibility in the European market, particularly before the January 2027 DFARS procurement cliff takes effect, thereby enhancing its competitive position internationally.
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Analyst Views on UUUU
Wall Street analysts forecast UUUU stock price to rise
6 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 18.440
Low
15.50
Averages
24.43
High
30.00
Current: 18.440
Low
15.50
Averages
24.43
High
30.00
About UUUU
Energy Fuels Inc. is a global critical mineral company. The Company focuses on uranium, rare earth elements (REEs), heavy mineral sands, vanadium and medical isotopes. The Company owns and operates several conventional and in-situ recovery uranium projects in the western United States. The Company has three heavy mineral sands projects: the 100% owned Vara Mada Project in Madagascar; the 100% owned Bahia Project in Brazil, and the Donald Project in Australia. The Vara Mada Project is located in south-west Madagascar, approximately 45-kilometer (km) north of the regional town and port of Toliara, which is rich in ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite. Its uranium projects are White Mesa Mill and Pinyon Plain Project. The White Mesa Mill Project is in Utah, which is the only fully licensed and operating conventional uranium processing facility in the United States. Its other projects include Hank Project, Jane Dough Project, Kwale Project, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Western Tungsten Supply Challenge Enters New Phase
- Surging Tungsten Prices: In May 2026, APT Rotterdam tungsten prices reached $3,185 per metric tonne, reflecting a 900% increase year-over-year, primarily driven by Chinese export licensing controls and the impending January 2027 DFARS procurement cliff, which tightens supply and raises production costs for related companies.
- Launch of Modern Exploration Program: On May 21, 2026, Western Star Resources announced that its technical team has mobilized to the Rowland tungsten property in Nevada to commence its 2026 field exploration program, utilizing modern drone geophysics and systematic soil geochemistry to generate drill-ready targets, thereby enhancing resource development efficiency.
- Enhanced Policy Support: The expansion of the Canadian CMETC tax framework provides a 30% non-refundable credit for tungsten exploration, coupled with the upcoming DFARS procurement restrictions, creating a favorable policy environment that promotes investment and development in Western tungsten mines, boosting market confidence.
- European Market Promotion: Western Star has engaged Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH under a €200,000 investor relations mandate, aimed at increasing the company's visibility in the European market, particularly before the January 2027 DFARS procurement cliff takes effect, thereby enhancing its competitive position internationally.
See More
GoldHaven Resources Drives Tungsten Supply Rebuilding Efforts
- Surging Tungsten Prices: Since China added tungsten products to its export control list in February 2025, ammonium paratungstate (APT) prices have surged by 557%, with European benchmark prices expected to reach $2,250 per metric ton by March 2026, prompting Western governments to accelerate the search for non-Chinese tungsten supply sources.
- Enhanced Policy Support: Canada's Bill C-15, which received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, includes tungsten in the 30% Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, applicable to flow-through agreements made between November 4, 2025, and March 31, 2027, further stimulating capital inflow into tungsten projects.
- Magno Project Potential: GoldHaven's Magno project in British Columbia has identified multiple tungsten-bearing targets, with 2025 surface sampling returning values up to 6,550 ppm tungsten, and drilling planned for 2026 aims to confirm historical data, enhancing the project's economic potential.
- Increased Market Attention: As the strategic importance of tungsten and other critical minerals rises, GoldHaven's Magno project is viewed as an ideal land package to meet Western buyers' needs, with drilling results over the next 12 months set to determine its market positioning.
See More
Nuclear Energy Renaissance Boosts U.S. Miners
- Nuclear Market Growth: As more companies embrace nuclear energy, Energy Fuels and Uranium Energy, two of the largest U.S. miners, are benefiting from this market resurgence, which is expected to drive their business growth.
- Energy Fuels Advantage: Energy Fuels owns the only operational uranium mill in the U.S., the White Mesa Mill, which allows it to process third-party ore, reducing regulatory costs and enhancing its competitive edge in the market.
- Cost Efficiency of Uranium Energy: Uranium Energy employs in-situ recovery technology, resulting in operating costs that are 50% lower than traditional mining, with a cost of around $30 per pound at its Christensen Ranch hub in Wyoming, ensuring solid margins as spot uranium prices hover around $85 per pound.
- Market Strategy Differences: Energy Fuels manages risk through long-term contracts to ensure steady cash flows, while Uranium Energy operates entirely on the spot market, benefiting from price increases but also facing greater downside risk.
See More
Nuclear Renaissance Drives Investment Opportunities in Uranium Mining
- Nuclear Renaissance: After years of stagnation, nuclear energy is once again gaining traction due to its zero emissions and reliable 24/7 baseload power, driving renewed interest in uranium mining investments, particularly as the U.S. government seeks to secure domestic uranium supplies.
- Energy Fuels' Competitive Edge: Energy Fuels operates the only licensed uranium mill in the U.S., the White Mesa Mill in Utah, providing a unique competitive advantage in uranium processing by allowing the company to process both its own ore and third-party ore, thus lowering market entry barriers.
- Uranium Energy's Low-Cost Production: Uranium Energy employs in-situ recovery (ISR) techniques, which are 50% cheaper than conventional mining, with production costs around $30 per pound at active hubs like Christensen Ranch in Wyoming, ensuring solid margins as spot uranium prices hover around $85 per pound.
- Business Model Comparison: Energy Fuels mitigates risk through long-term contracts, ensuring steady cash flows, while Uranium Energy relies entirely on spot market prices, benefiting from price increases but also facing downside risks, catering to different investor risk appetites.
See More
U.S.-China Rare Earth Supply Chain Talks Show Progress
- Rare Earth Supply Agreement: The U.S. and China have reached an agreement covering mining and processing technologies for key minerals like indium and neodymium, aimed at reducing reliance on China, which controls about 90% of rare earth production, thereby enhancing U.S. supply chain security in defense and semiconductor sectors.
- Market Reaction: Following the White House's announcement, stocks of rare earth companies such as MP Materials, USA Rare Earth, Energy Fuels, and United States Antimony gained attention; while MP and USA Rare Earth saw declines, Energy Fuels rose by 0.9%, reflecting market optimism regarding improvements in the rare earth supply chain.
- Technology and Export Restrictions: The agreement also includes restrictions on the export of equipment and technologies for rare earth extraction and processing, addressing U.S. concerns over shortages of critical rare earth elements, which could alleviate long-standing supply chain bottlenecks reliant on a single geographic source and promote domestic production capabilities.
- Government Investment Support: The U.S. government has invested in several rare earth companies, including MP Materials and Energy Fuels, to bolster domestic production and strengthen the supply chain for critical materials, ensuring competitiveness in sectors like electric vehicles and renewable energy.
See More
Eagle Nuclear Initiates Environmental Baseline Studies
- Project Launch: Eagle Nuclear Energy Corp. announced on May 5, 2026, the initiation of environmental baseline studies at its flagship Aurora Uranium Project, preparing for a 27,000-foot drilling program set to commence in July 2026, indicating the company's proactive stance in uranium resource development.
- Resource Reserves: The Aurora Uranium Project hosts 32.75 million pounds of indicated uranium resources and 4.98 million pounds of inferred resources under the SK-1300 TRS reporting standard, highlighting its significant position in the U.S. uranium market.
- Drilling Program: The drilling program will be conducted by Harris Exploration Drilling & Associates Inc., utilizing 2 to 3 rigs to complete 47 holes over an estimated 3 to 4 months, aimed at addressing data gaps and advancing the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS).
- Market Context: As of May 2026, spot uranium prices are approximately $86.55 per pound, a 24% increase year-over-year, reflecting the growing domestic demand for uranium development, which further propels Eagle Nuclear's strategic growth.
See More
Western Tungsten Supply Challenge Enters New Phase
- Surging Tungsten Prices: In May 2026, APT Rotterdam tungsten prices reached $3,185 per metric tonne, reflecting a 900% increase year-over-year, primarily driven by Chinese export licensing controls and the impending January 2027 DFARS procurement cliff, which tightens supply and raises production costs for related companies.
- Launch of Modern Exploration Program: On May 21, 2026, Western Star Resources announced that its technical team has mobilized to the Rowland tungsten property in Nevada to commence its 2026 field exploration program, utilizing modern drone geophysics and systematic soil geochemistry to generate drill-ready targets, thereby enhancing resource development efficiency.
- Enhanced Policy Support: The expansion of the Canadian CMETC tax framework provides a 30% non-refundable credit for tungsten exploration, coupled with the upcoming DFARS procurement restrictions, creating a favorable policy environment that promotes investment and development in Western tungsten mines, boosting market confidence.
- European Market Promotion: Western Star has engaged Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH under a €200,000 investor relations mandate, aimed at increasing the company's visibility in the European market, particularly before the January 2027 DFARS procurement cliff takes effect, thereby enhancing its competitive position internationally.
See More
GoldHaven Resources Drives Tungsten Supply Rebuilding Efforts
- Surging Tungsten Prices: Since China added tungsten products to its export control list in February 2025, ammonium paratungstate (APT) prices have surged by 557%, with European benchmark prices expected to reach $2,250 per metric ton by March 2026, prompting Western governments to accelerate the search for non-Chinese tungsten supply sources.
- Enhanced Policy Support: Canada's Bill C-15, which received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, includes tungsten in the 30% Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, applicable to flow-through agreements made between November 4, 2025, and March 31, 2027, further stimulating capital inflow into tungsten projects.
- Magno Project Potential: GoldHaven's Magno project in British Columbia has identified multiple tungsten-bearing targets, with 2025 surface sampling returning values up to 6,550 ppm tungsten, and drilling planned for 2026 aims to confirm historical data, enhancing the project's economic potential.
- Increased Market Attention: As the strategic importance of tungsten and other critical minerals rises, GoldHaven's Magno project is viewed as an ideal land package to meet Western buyers' needs, with drilling results over the next 12 months set to determine its market positioning.
See More
Nuclear Energy Renaissance Boosts U.S. Miners
- Nuclear Market Growth: As more companies embrace nuclear energy, Energy Fuels and Uranium Energy, two of the largest U.S. miners, are benefiting from this market resurgence, which is expected to drive their business growth.
- Energy Fuels Advantage: Energy Fuels owns the only operational uranium mill in the U.S., the White Mesa Mill, which allows it to process third-party ore, reducing regulatory costs and enhancing its competitive edge in the market.
- Cost Efficiency of Uranium Energy: Uranium Energy employs in-situ recovery technology, resulting in operating costs that are 50% lower than traditional mining, with a cost of around $30 per pound at its Christensen Ranch hub in Wyoming, ensuring solid margins as spot uranium prices hover around $85 per pound.
- Market Strategy Differences: Energy Fuels manages risk through long-term contracts to ensure steady cash flows, while Uranium Energy operates entirely on the spot market, benefiting from price increases but also facing greater downside risk.
See More
Nuclear Renaissance Drives Investment Opportunities in Uranium Mining
- Nuclear Renaissance: After years of stagnation, nuclear energy is once again gaining traction due to its zero emissions and reliable 24/7 baseload power, driving renewed interest in uranium mining investments, particularly as the U.S. government seeks to secure domestic uranium supplies.
- Energy Fuels' Competitive Edge: Energy Fuels operates the only licensed uranium mill in the U.S., the White Mesa Mill in Utah, providing a unique competitive advantage in uranium processing by allowing the company to process both its own ore and third-party ore, thus lowering market entry barriers.
- Uranium Energy's Low-Cost Production: Uranium Energy employs in-situ recovery (ISR) techniques, which are 50% cheaper than conventional mining, with production costs around $30 per pound at active hubs like Christensen Ranch in Wyoming, ensuring solid margins as spot uranium prices hover around $85 per pound.
- Business Model Comparison: Energy Fuels mitigates risk through long-term contracts, ensuring steady cash flows, while Uranium Energy relies entirely on spot market prices, benefiting from price increases but also facing downside risks, catering to different investor risk appetites.
See More
U.S.-China Rare Earth Supply Chain Talks Show Progress
- Rare Earth Supply Agreement: The U.S. and China have reached an agreement covering mining and processing technologies for key minerals like indium and neodymium, aimed at reducing reliance on China, which controls about 90% of rare earth production, thereby enhancing U.S. supply chain security in defense and semiconductor sectors.
- Market Reaction: Following the White House's announcement, stocks of rare earth companies such as MP Materials, USA Rare Earth, Energy Fuels, and United States Antimony gained attention; while MP and USA Rare Earth saw declines, Energy Fuels rose by 0.9%, reflecting market optimism regarding improvements in the rare earth supply chain.
- Technology and Export Restrictions: The agreement also includes restrictions on the export of equipment and technologies for rare earth extraction and processing, addressing U.S. concerns over shortages of critical rare earth elements, which could alleviate long-standing supply chain bottlenecks reliant on a single geographic source and promote domestic production capabilities.
- Government Investment Support: The U.S. government has invested in several rare earth companies, including MP Materials and Energy Fuels, to bolster domestic production and strengthen the supply chain for critical materials, ensuring competitiveness in sectors like electric vehicles and renewable energy.
See More
Eagle Nuclear Initiates Environmental Baseline Studies
- Project Launch: Eagle Nuclear Energy Corp. announced on May 5, 2026, the initiation of environmental baseline studies at its flagship Aurora Uranium Project, preparing for a 27,000-foot drilling program set to commence in July 2026, indicating the company's proactive stance in uranium resource development.
- Resource Reserves: The Aurora Uranium Project hosts 32.75 million pounds of indicated uranium resources and 4.98 million pounds of inferred resources under the SK-1300 TRS reporting standard, highlighting its significant position in the U.S. uranium market.
- Drilling Program: The drilling program will be conducted by Harris Exploration Drilling & Associates Inc., utilizing 2 to 3 rigs to complete 47 holes over an estimated 3 to 4 months, aimed at addressing data gaps and advancing the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS).
- Market Context: As of May 2026, spot uranium prices are approximately $86.55 per pound, a 24% increase year-over-year, reflecting the growing domestic demand for uranium development, which further propels Eagle Nuclear's strategic growth.
See More
