Metals Worth Watching in 2026
In 2026, tungsten and tantalum are becoming increasingly valuable in the metal recycling market. If you collect, sort, or sell metal scrap, it is worth checking whether these metals may be passing unnoticed through your material streams.
Between March 25, 2025 and March 26, 2026, tungsten prices increased by 440%, while tantalum rose by 180%.
Tungsten — A Rapidly Rising Industrial Metal
Tungsten is one of the most durable metals and has one of the highest melting points of all elements. These properties make it essential for many industrial and high-technology applications.
Where is tungsten used?
Tungsten is commonly found in:
- Metal machining tools
- cutting and milling inserts
- drill bits and turning tool tips
- carbide products
- welding electrodes
- transistors
- medical implants.
Where to find tungsten in scrap?
- Used carbide inserts from manufacturing facilities
- scrap cutting tools from metalworking shops
- grinding and cutting waste
- carbide production chips.
The tungsten concentration in carbide scrap can be very high, making it one of the most valuable material streams in the recycling market.
If you collect cutting tools or carbide scrap, it is advisable to separate it from the general metal scrap stream.
Tantalum — A Valuable Metal in Electronic Waste
Tantalum is highly corrosion-resistant and extremely stable, which is why it is widely used in electronics and high-reliability equipment.
Where is tantalum found?
- Tantalum capacitors (especially in industrial electronics)
- specialized and older electronic equipment
- telecommunications equipment
- superalloys.
Because tantalum is usually present in small quantities, precise waste sorting can significantly increase the value of recyclable materials.
Why is this important now?
- demand for strategic metals is growing in the technology and defense sectors
- global supply chains remain vulnerable
- recycling is becoming an increasingly important alternative to primary raw materials
- better sorting leads to higher financial returns
If you have materials with an unknown composition or suspect they may contain tungsten or tantalum, contact us.
We will evaluate the materials and recommend the best solution.
Call: +370 618 24273
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER and stay updated on metal prices and market insights!
By providing my email address, I confirm that I agree to receive newsletters and that my data will be processed for direct marketing purposes in accordance with NOVITERA’s privacy policy. I can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.
