Writing this in March 2026, the world is a pretty chaotic place right now. Wars, global tensions, unstable supply chains, rising energy prices, everything seems to be getting more expensive.
Unfortunately, tungsten carbide is no exception.
If you run a stump grinder, you’ve probably noticed the price of carbide products creeping up everywhere. There’s a reason for that.
Tungsten Prices Have Gone Through The Roof
Tungsten carbide is the business end of a stump grinding tooth. It’s what allows teeth to stay sharp while smashing through hardwood, dirt, rocks and everything else hiding underground.
Over the last 18-24 months the price of tungsten has skyrocketed, in many cases over 200–250% compared to where it was previously.
When the core material used in a product jumps that much, it eventually affects the final price.
There’s really no way around it.
Why Is Tungsten So Expensive Right Now?
Several global factors are driving the price of tungsten higher right now.
China Controls Most Of The World’s Supply
In recent years the Chinese government has tightened control over tungsten mining and exports. China produces over 80% of the world’s tungsten, and in 2025 introduced new export licensing requirements while also reducing mining quotas. These measures have significantly reduced the amount of tungsten available to international markets and contributed to the sharp rise in global prices.
Governments Are Stockpiling Strategic Metals
Tungsten is considered a strategic metal because it’s critical for defense, aerospace, energy and industrial manufacturing.
It’s used in armor-piercing ammunition, aerospace components, drilling equipment, electronics and high-performance cutting tools.
With global tensions increasing, many governments have begun quietly stockpiling tungsten and other strategic metals to secure future supply.
Global Demand Is Growing
Demand for tungsten is increasing across several industries at the same time.
Mining, oil drilling, construction, electronics manufacturing and defense industries all rely heavily on tungsten carbide tooling.
As these industries expand, competition for tungsten increases.
Manufacturing Costs Are Rising
Producing tungsten carbide requires extremely high temperatures and energy-intensive processing.
Rising energy prices, labor costs and stricter environmental regulations have all increased the cost of producing tungsten carbide.
Unlike metals like steel or aluminum, tungsten isn’t something manufacturers can easily source from multiple regions if supply tightens. When availability drops, the entire industry feels it, we're no exception.
It’s Not Just Tungsten
While tungsten is the biggest factor, other costs have also increased.
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Alloy steel prices are higher
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International freight costs are volatile
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Manufacturing and energy costs continue to rise
All of these factors add up across the supply chain.
Why Arbteeth Won’t Cut Corners
When tungsten prices rise like this, some manufacturers switch to recycled or lower grade carbide to save money.
We won’t.
Recycled carbide can be cheaper, but it often sacrifices consistency and durability. Our goal has always been supplying reliable, high-performance teeth, not cutting corners to keep prices artificially low.
Our Goal With Pricing
We’re not trying to cash in on the situation.
We’re simply adjusting pricing to keep up with the increased cost of materials while continuing to produce the same high quality products.
If tungsten prices stabilize or drop in the future, we’ll absolutely reassess things.
The Reality For The Industry
The truth is, if a company is using genuine high-quality tungsten carbide, they’re dealing with the same price pressures right now.
Anyone selling carbide tools at the same price they were a few months ago is either:
• absorbing heavy losses
• using cheaper materials
• or sitting on old stock
Thanks For Supporting Arbteeth
We genuinely appreciate every customer who chooses Arbteeth gear.
Your support allows us to keep improving our products and supplying stump grinders with products built to last.
- Ben
Arbteeth