A tungsten mine in northern Rwanda is now supplying up to 20 percent of United States demand for primary tungsten concentrate, highlighting the country’s growing importance in global critical mineral supply chains.
The Nyakabinga mine in Gakenke district, operated by Rwanda-based Trinity Metals, produces tungsten concentrate that is processed in the United States for industrial and defence-related applications.
Trinity Metals said shipments from the mine have exceeded 320 tonnes since August 2025 following a commercial agreement between its offtake partner Traxys and Global Tungsten & Powders.
The company said deliveries to its US customer have doubled in recent weeks, making Nyakabinga a significant source of imported tungsten at a time when American domestic production remains limited.
Tungsten is a critical mineral used in aerospace components, industrial cutting tools, electronics and defence manufacturing because of its extreme hardness and resistance to heat.
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The United States relies heavily on imports, while China dominates global tungsten production and has introduced export controls on some strategic materials.
“Demand for tungsten in the US is growing fast, both for defence and industrial applications,” said Trinity Metals chairman Shawn McCormick.
He said China produces more than 80 percent of the world’s tungsten, increasing the importance of alternative suppliers as countries seek to diversify critical mineral sources.
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Trinity Metals said Rwanda’s growing role in the sector creates an opportunity for deeper cooperation with the United States on strategic minerals.
“As Rwanda’s largest mineral producer and exporter, Trinity Metals is proud to support Rwanda’s role in meeting America’s strategic requirements,” McCormick said, adding that there was potential for a US-Rwanda partnership agreement focused on critical minerals.
Formed in 2022 through the merger of Nyakabinga Tungsten Mine, Rutongo Tin Mine, and Musha Tin and Tantalum Mine, Trinity Metals employs more than 6,500 workers and is Rwanda’s largest producer of critical minerals.
The company is also conducting early-stage lithium exploration at its Ntunga prospect as demand grows for minerals used in advanced technologies and energy systems.
Traxys, the New York-based trading firm responsible for export links, said it connects the Rwandan mine with industrial customers in the United States and Europe.
“Traxys is proud to be the catalyst in enabling the international reach of Africa’s most significant tungsten producer,” said Ioannis Kallinikos, the company’s head of tin and specialty metals.
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The Nyakabinga concession covers about 1,600 hectares and is estimated to contain more than 30,000 tonnes of recoverable tungsten, with further potential being explored at deeper levels.
Trinity Metals said the mine currently produces more than 100 tonnes of wolframite per month under a 25-year mining licence issued in 2015.
The company said its operations are certified as conflict-free and free of child labour, with production fully traceable from extraction to final customer.
As competition for critical minerals increases globally, Rwanda’s tungsten industry is becoming increasingly linked to efforts by major economies to secure reliable supplies for manufacturing, technology and defence industries.
